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II 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 



DELIVERED AT 



AMHERST, N. H., 



HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 



|}f(li(,iti$i| 4 Hit ^mt^u^^ikul 'j|(cdinij=|{(nt.5vt, 






BY THE PASTOR, J. G. DAVIS; 



With sketches of Persons, Places, and Churches connected with 

the parish originally called Souhegan West, by Rev. A. 

Heald, S. H. Keeler, D.D., W. B. Towne, 

and D. F. Secomb, Esquires. 




CONCORD, N. H. : 

PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 
1874. 



^r1 



-1" 



\\" 



Amherst, Jan'y 26, 1874. 

Kev. Dk. Davis: — 

Dear Sir, — The undersigned, having heard, with great satisfaction, 
your address commemorative of the one hundredth anniversary of 
the dedication of the church, and feeling that it should be put in 
form for preservation, earnestly request a copy for publication. A 
general desire is also expressed that the other valuable and interesting 
historical papers presented on that occasion m^y be printed with the 
discourse. 

Wm. a. Mack, H. E. Woodbury, 

David Fisk, William Pratt, 

Luther Elliott, George Danforth, 

Aaron S. Wilkins, Levi J. Secomb, 
Geo. W. Boswortii, Z. Perry, 
William Wetherbee. 



Amherst, Jan'y 27, 1874. 
Gentlemen, — 

In compliance with the request, so kindly expressed in your commu- 
nication of the 26th, I submit the manuscript of my discourse to j'our 
disposal. The history is by no means complete, but, connected with 
the other papers that you propose to print under the same covers, will 
serve to .keep alive the memory of the fathers, and -thus quicken our 
gratitude to God for the great benefits conferred on us through their 
toils. With sincere esteem, 

Yours, J. G. Davis. 

To William A. Mack, Esq., 
David Fisk, and others. 



INTPtODUCTIOK 



At a meeting of the Congregational Church, held Nov. 18, 18T3, it 
was Voted, That the officers of the cliurch, with Messrs. Levi J. Secomb 
and Jotham Hartshorn, be a committee to learn the wishes of citizens 
and church members, and ascertain whether it be expedient to observe 
the centennial of the dedication of the Congregational meeting-house, 
which occurred Jan. 19, 1774. 

This committee met at Dea. Boylston's on the 25th, and decided 
that it is expedient to commemorate the dedication of the meeting- 
house, by a sermon and other ajipropriate exercises. It was subse- 
quently determined to obtain sketches of the history of other churches 
which have been organized within the original limits of Amherst, as Mil- 
ford, Mt. Vernon, and the ]5aptist and Methodist churches in town. 
Invitations were accordingly issued to pastors and others to furnish 
sketches of churches and deceased persons, with historical reminis- 
cences suited to the occasion. Services were assigned to Sunday the 
18th, and to Monday p. m. of the 19th of January, when the Methodist 
and Baptist societies, and the congregation from Mt. Vernon, united 
with the parent church in the worship of God in the old meeting-house. 

The day was pleasant, and the sleighing excellent. The house was 
filled in every part, the aisles being furnished with extra seats. 

The services of the morning opened with the doxology; invocation 
and reading of the scriptures by Rev. Mr. Ruland; prayer by Rev. 
Dr. Keeler; and singing 1st version of the 78th psalm, — 

" Let children hear the mighty deeds 
Which God performed of old " — Tate §• Brady — 

followed by the historical discourse, and prayer by Rev. Dr. Clark. 

In the afternoon, after singing, and prayer by Rev. Mr. Ileald. the 
salutations of the Methodist church were presented by Rev. Mr. Ruland 
in a cordial address, when Rev. Mr. Heald read his sketch of the Bap- 
tist church, and Dr. Keeler followed with the history of the church in 
Mt. Vernon. 

The next day a large audience assembled in the Town Hall, at 1 



4 

o'clock p. M., the pastor of the Congregational church presiding. Rev. 
Mr. Heald offered prayer, when, in answer to a call from the chair, 
Hon. Wm. B. Towne gave a succinct history of the origin of the town 
of Milford, the organization of the church, and the services of its 
ministers. 

In response to some remarks on the life and services of Daniel Camp- 
bell, Esq., one of the early settlers, Hon. Chas. H. Cftmpbell, of Nashua, 
made a spirited address, abounding in choice anecdotes of the olden 
times, witli grateful reminiscences of his ancestors and other respected 
citizens living in the neighborhood, establishing a claim* in behalf of 
the beautiful swell of land, which these men and their descendants have 
occupied for nearly a century, to be called the Moderator's Hill. 

To this address succeeded the reading of interesting memorials of 
departed worthies and their times, by D. F. Secomb, Esq., of Concord, 
the son of John and brother of Levi J. Secomb, whose names are as- 
sociated with long terms of service in important offices of the town. 

The exercises were enlivened by cheery songs of the Apollo Club 
from Nashua. With a few earnest words from Dea. Boylston on the 
importance of making provision fo^^the publication of a history of the 
town, the meeting was closed. 

In the evening an organ concert was given by Geo. H. Ryder, of 
Boston, in which he was aided by Miss H. A. Russell, Mr. Merrill and 
his club, with the new instrument he had set up the week previous in the 
meeting-house. In concluding this sketch of the commemorative ser- 
vices, it is due to the authors of the several papers, now printed, to say 
that they are not as complete as they intended. The time for prepara- 
tion was too short for extensive research or exhaustive treatment. In 
giving the sermon and sketches to the press, they are influenced by a 
desire to piace these fragments of history in a form in which the ma- 
terials may be preserved for the more thorough and comprehensive 
treatment which the good name and services of Amherst, Mt. Vernon, 
and Milford deserve. 

* The claim is justified by the fact that six individuals, belonging to three families in 
that school district, have served as moderators at forty-one of the one hundred and 
fifteen annual town meetings held since the incorporation of the town. The same per- 
sons have served fifty-seven years on the board of selectmen, and represented the town 
fourteen years in the general court. They are Daniel Campbell, Daniel Campbell, Jr., 
Charles H. Campbell, John Secomb, Levi J. Secomb, and William A. Mack. s. 



DISCOURSE. 



JOHX 4 : 38. * * * OTHER MEX LABOURED, AND YE ARE 
ENTERED INTO THEIR LABORS. 

HAGGAI 2:9. The glory of this latter house shall be 

GREATER THAN OF THE FORMER, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. 

1 KIXGS 8 : 57. The Lord our God "be with us, as he was 

WITH OL'R FATHERS. LeT HIM NOT LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US. 

Tlie great law of human progress, by which one generation 
enters on the labors of the preceding, and profits by its toil, 
has manifold illustrations. There was a preparation for the 
specific mission of the apostles, in the results wrought out by 
the counsels and experience of prophets and teachers who 
were commissioned before them. Each age gathers wisdom 
from the labors and researches of the preceding age. In ev- 
ery science, and in every art, we are constrained to acknowl- 
edge our mdebtedness to the genius and industry of depart- 
ed generations. So is it in respect to social customs, relig- 
ious institutions, and all the essential features of our civiliza- 
tion. We have but taken up and carried forward the work 
which our fathers laid down. 

One of the most important uses of historical discourses and 
commemorations is, to teach us wliat we owe to the past ; to 
bring to mind the conditions of hardship and toil; the enter- 
prise and patient industry by which our present prosperity 
was attained. Without some effort of this kind, by which 
we reproduce the lives and labors of those who have gone be- 
fore us, we shall not adequately value the heritage on which 



6 

we have entered, and by which we are so richly endowed. 
The event which we commemorate this day is not in itself 
so remarkable as to deserve special notice. The dedication 
of a house, erected for public worsliip at this day, has seldom 
any wide interest beyond the gratification of those who are 
to be accommodated beneath its roof. But this was not the 
sentiment a hundred years ago. The erection of a meeting- 
house, in the early history of the New England towns, was 
memorable as the result of a purpose to honor God in cir- 
cumstances of hardship and destitution. It was accomplished 
amidst difliculties, and with an outlay of time and labor 
which was a heavy tax on the inhabitants. The building of 
lofty height, which was usually planted on some eminence, was 
the exponent of an idea that entered into and fashioned the 
character of the people. It was not merely an expres- 
sion of religious feeling, l3ut an expression of the principle 
that religion is to be maintained by the keeping of Sab- 
baths, and regular public instruction in the doctrines of the 
Bible. When we learn that the grantees of the Narragan- 
sett township^were required " to pass such lailes and orders 
as will effectually oblige them to settle sixty families, at least, 
in each township, with a learned and orthodox ministry, 
within the space of seven years from the date of this grant," 
and when we learn that " if the said grantees shall not effec- 
tually settle the said number of families in each township, 
and also lay out a lot for the first settled minister, one for 
the ministry, and one for the school in each of said town- 
ships, they shall have no advantage of, but forfeit their re- 
spective grants," — it is obvious that, in the minds of those 
legislators, education and religion were held essential to the 
well-being of society ; that in peopling a township there was 
a necessity of providing for the education of children, and 
for the religious culture and worship of all the inhabitants. 
If these ideas could not be realized, they were not disposed 
to encourage new settlements. 

It has been alleged that the members of the Massachusetts 



government, in making tliese grants, "were influenced more 
by motives of policy than those of benevolence," as "they 
wished to retain property in the lands, in case the jurisdic- 
tion was taken away." That considerations of this nature 
were active in promoting these grants maybe admitted. To 
suppose that these settlements would be undertaken without 
any prosjjcct of personal advantage, is to assume a superhu- 
man virtue in our ancestors to which they made no claims. 
The commendable feature of the transaction is, that, having in 
view the acquisition of landed property, they did not overlook 
nor neglect the higher conditions that respected the service 
of God and the spiritual welfare of the emigrants. The per- 
sons to whom the grant No. 3, at Souhegan West, was made, 
lived in Essex county, Massachusetts; and, as few of the 
original proprietors came into New Hampshire, the harmony 
of their action in accepting the trust is the more noticeable. 
It is with some diffidence*' that I attempt to describe the 
movements of the first settlers. The early landmarks have 
disappeared; and it is not easy to reproduce the scenes in 
which they planted their habitations. To men employed in 
suljjugating the forests, clearing lots, making roads, and 
rearing log houses, there was no leisure, and little disposi- 
tion, to make careful records of the place and progress of 
their occupations. The first settlement in the territory was 
made in 1734, the same year in which the proprietors held 
their first meeting at Salem Village (now Danvers), Mass. 
The emigrants were mainly from the towns of Essex county : 
at a later period valuable accessions to the population came 
from Middlesex county. On taking possession of the town- 
ship in 1735, — after a plan which distributed the soil into 



* The author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dea. E. D. Boylston for the 
use of original letters and other valuable 3ISS. from his private collections, with the 
loan of the " Proprietors' Records" belonging to Hon. C. H. Campbell. His thanks 
are due to D. F. Secomb, Esq., of Concord, for many anecdotes of the early inhabi- 
tants, with copies of papers from the archives of the state. Edward Spalding, m. d., 
and William 11. Towiie, Esq., have also aided him by personal recollections and other 
information. 



8 

three sections, with sub-divisions into lots of sixty acres 
each, — the proprietors vote "to lay out a place whereon 
to erect a meeting-house;" and, in August of the same 
year, they also vote "to build." A meeting-house would be 
of little use without worshippers. We accordingly read 
of appropriations, to induce people to move hither and 
take up lands. At first, a grant is made of £6 to each 
settler on clearing two acres of land, and the comple- 
tion of a house 18x18, and 7 feet stud, — a grant subse- 
quently increased to £20 to actual settlers. This will 
explain tlie delay in executing the earlier votes. Tlie way 
was not prepared. Openings must be made in the forests, 
the soil broken, and crops raised, before men and materials 
could be had for the house of worship. In February of 
1737-38, the subject is brought up anew, and they decide 
" to build a house forty-five feet in lengtli, thirty-five in 
width, and twenty-two feet stud," — a structure of generous 
proportions for that period, answering in its area to one half 
of the room we now occupy. They proposed to cover the 
outside and erect a pulpit within twelve months, and X3 
per right was assessed on the proprietors to pay for the same. 
This house, which was located on the rising ground at the 
junction of the roads then leading to Bedford and through 
the west parish to New Boston, was actually raised in May 
of 1739, when Capt. Ebenezer Raimond was instructed to 
provide entertainment for the raising, — a laborious and 
somewhat dangerous undertaking. In that year, the inhabi- 
tants were authorized to draw £20 from the treasury 
" towards their having the word of God preached among 
them for the next six mos.," which was supplemented by 
another grant of £20 in July, to pay for preaching till next 
March, " if they bring the men's names that preached ten 
days," — a somewhat ambiguous condition, but intended, I 
assume, to prevent a misapplication of the money, as, in 
December, they adopted a different rule, by which " 50 shil- 
lings was voted for each Sabbath they shall have preaching 



among them." Without certain information, it is doubtful 
whether preaching was maintained with mucli regularity. 
According to a tradition, the thirteenth family that settled 
in the township was that of Mr. (afterward Rev.) Daniel 
Wilkins (Harvard col., 1736). lie came with his wife from 
Middleton, Mass., in compliance with the solicitations of 
tlic families that came here from that place and vicinity. 
This was in ll-iO; and in April of the following year, the 
proprietors concur in the action of the settlers in desiring 
Mr. Wilkins to become their minister, " provided we can 
agree with him for salary and settlement." The negotiations 
resulted favorably, and in August they vote to accept the 
report of the committee " that was chosen to treat with Mr. 
Daniel Wilkins about salary and settlement." At the same 
meeting a committee was chosen " to take care of the ordi- 
nation," with instructions "not to exceed X40, but as much 
less as they can." This committee was also to designate 
" the time and advise the clerk, that he may put it into the 
newspaper." On the 22d of September, 1741, the church 
was organized, and six males, including the pastor elect, 
sul)scribed the covenant, which, with slight alterations, 
abides in use unto this day. The covenant contained six 
articles, presenting a concise and admirable statement of 
Christian duty.* No confession of faith was required ; and, 
after repeated inquiries, I have never been able to learn at 
what time, or by whose counsel, the articles of faith now 
prefixed to the covenant were adopted. On the next day, 
September 23d, Rev. Daniel Wilkins was ordained pastor, 
by a council of five ministers and fourteen lay delegates, of 
whom the church in Middleton, from which Mr. Wilkins 
came, sent five, and the church in Dunstable three. Rev. 
Nathaniel Henchman, of Lynn, was moderator of the coun- 

*The only rules adopted by the church besides this covenant, for more than thirty 
years, are the following: In 1750, "Voted, That no persons should have the privilege 
of baptism for their children, without a certificate from the churcli to which they 
belonged." In 1757, " Voted, That the satisfaction for all public oflences shall Le equal 
to the crimes.'' 



10 

cil, and Eev. Stephen Chase, of Lynn, preached the sermon. 
The prayer of ordination was probably offered by Rev. An- 
drew Peters, of Middleton, — the other parts of tlie Kervice 
falling to Rev. James Osgood, of Wenham, Mass., and Rev. 
Josiah Swan, of Dunstable. Immediately after the ordina- 
tion, six females were admitted to church membership, 
Sarah Wilkins, the wife of the pastor, being of the number. 
But where, we ask, were the services of installation held ? 
Did the people gather in some opening of the forest, amidst 
" the sounding aisles of the dim woods ?" Did the fathers 
find a sanctuary in the unfinished apartment of a log house? 
Possibly they found accommodation "in the convenient 
house of entertainment" which Capt. Richard Mower was 
to build, in consideration of lot No. 25, of which lie was to 
have sure title; perhaps a shelter was found within the 
frame of the meeting-house, which might have been covered 
with boughs or boards for the occasion. We cannot answer 
the question, concerning which we may well be curious, as 
somewhat to our amazement we read,* more than two years 
after the installation, " that the committee to be chosen get 
the meeting-house boarded, and the floor laid, the body seats 
made up, and the pulpit made, and the doors made and 
hung, as soon as can be." In February following (1744), 
they vote " that they will' do something towards finishing 
the meeting-house, viz., to clapboard it, and make the win- 
dow frames, crown and glaze them, to point the ground- 
pointing, and prime the flew-boards, window frames, sashes, 
and doors ; and in case there is not an Indian war next fall, 
to lath and plaster the meeting-house, as the committee 
shall think best." These votes were doubtless carried into 
efltect during the next summer, so far as to exclude the wind 
and snow, as a meeting of the proprietors is called at the 
meeting-house early in the year 1745. But what a picture 
these votes suggest to the imagination, of the privations 

* Proprietor's Eecords, Oct. 18th, 1743. 



11 

and hardship of the early inhabitants. If tlie ordination 
toolc place on the site of the nieeting-honse, they had at 
the best only a roof over their heads. The population of 
the township could not have exceeded twenty families, and 
they over-worked by clearing lands, building barns, houses, 
fences, and making pathways through the forests. Money 
was scarce, and the currency continually depreciating. Yet 
they endured hardness as good soldiers, — the pastor giving 
an example to his flock, putting his lumd to the axe and the 
plough, sharing all the exposures of his brethren. And 
these exposures were such as might dishearten brave men. 
On their scattered farms they were much annoyed by wild 
beasts. "Wolves prowled about tlicir patiiways, and preyed 
u})on their sheep ; at times the bears caused them nuich 
trouble ; but these perils were soon aggravated by apprehen- 
sions of more deadly foes. 

Fortunately for the townships lying back from the Mer- 
rimack river, the Indian population had not been numerous. 
Whether wasted by disease, or driven back by earlier con- 
flicts, the region which the settlers entered had been deserted 
by the aborigines. Before the announcement of war be- 
tween France and England, the allies of the former had been 
excited to hostilities by emissaries of the same power tliat 
provoked tlie expedition against Louisbourg. Working south- 
ward from the Canadas, the Indians hovered about the infant 
settlements, capturing and slaying the inhabitants, and burn- 
ing their dwellings wherever tliey were unprotected. In 
this exigency the inhabitants of Souhegan West procured 
ammunition, and proceeded to fortify their dwellings and 
make provision for defence against the assailants. They 
also held a meeting at the house of their pastor, in wliich 
they unanimously agreed that Daniel Wilkins, in tlie name 
and behalf of the settlers of this plantation, should repre- 
sent to the Governor and Council of the Province of New- 
Hampshire " our distressing circumstances, on account of 
our exposure to the French and Indian enemy." Tiiey 



12 

needed defence while about tlieir work. The petition pre- 
pared by Rev, Mr. Wilkins was presented at Portsmouth, 
June 22, 1744, and— 

" Humbly sheweth the said town has been settled by his 
majesty's subjects about nine years, and a gospel minister 
ordained almost three years; that the settlers have an eye 
at enlarging his majesty's dominions, by going into the wil- 
derness, as well as their own interest ; that some thousands 
of pounds has been spent in clearing and cultivating the 
lands there, and vast sums in building houses, barns, and 
fences, besides much time and expense in building fortifica- 
tions, by His Excellency the Governor's order. 

" That the breaking up of the settlement will not only 
ruin the memorialists, but greatly disserve his majesty's 
interest by encouraging his enemies to encroach on his de- 
serted settlements, and be also hurtful to the province by 
contracting the borders and drawing the war nearer the 
capital. 

" That it was by a long and importunate intercession of 
this province (and not of the memorialists' seeking) that 
they are left under the immediate care of this government, 
which they conceive gives them so much the better right to 
its protection. 

" That as war is already declared against France, and a 
rupture with the Indians hourly expected, your memorialists, 
unless they have speedy help, will soon be obliged to forsake 
their town, how disserviceable soever it may be to the crown, 
dishonorable to the government, hurtful to the province, and 
ruinous to ourselves. 

" Wherefore, your memoralists most humbly supplicate 
Your Excellency, the Honorable Council, and House of Rep- 
resentatives to take the premises into your wise and mature 
consideration, and to grant them such reasonable relief as 
may enable them to subsist in the war and secure against 
the ravages and devastations of a bloodthirsty and merciless 
enemy : and your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever 
pray." 



13 

In his argument Mr. Wikins insists that the danger is 
imminent, and adroitly reminds the government that it was 
not of their choice that they were dependent on its protection. 

In answer to this petition, scouts were provided for this 
place, and Salem Canada (now Lyndeborongh) on the west. 
Tlie following year, at a meeting of the proprietors at Chelms- 
ford, Mass., a motion was carried imposing " an obligation to 
get sixty families to settle in the township immediately, ac- 
cording to the act of Massachusetts." But with all their 
efforts, it was difficult persuading men to move up into the 
wilderness, where, as yet, there was no smith to sharpen 
their tools, no mill to grind their corn, and the dread of 
the Indians required the inhabitants to keep armed. In 
May of 1747, the government having withdrawn its protec- 
tion, a new petition is forwarded to His Excellency Benning 
Wentworth, which showeth that the plantation contained 
thirty-five families, and about fifty-eight men upwards of 
sixteen years old: 

"That when we began our settlement we apprehended no 
danger of our ever being a frontier, there being at that time 
so many above us begun and obligated to fulfil the conditions 
of the Massachusetts grants, which occasioned us to settle 
scattering, only regarding the advantage of good and com- 
pact farms. 

"That the difficulty of war happening so early on our set- 
tlements, and the defenceless condition they were in, has 
obliged them all, viz., Peterborough, Salem Canada, New 
Boston, and Hillsborough (so-called), entirely to draw off, — 
as well as the forts on Connecticut river left naked, — where- 
by we are now left as much exposed as any of the frontiers 
on Merrimack river. 

"That the first year of the present war we were favored 
with a scout from this province (which we thankfully ac- 
knowledge), and Salem Canada with another, which was 
equally serviceable to us. Since that time both Salem Can- 
ada and this place has had a guard from the Massachusetts 



14 

till the winter passed, together with our inhabitants keeping 
a constant scout (though much impoverished thereby). 

"That this encouragement has occasioned our venturing 
here till now. 

"That, as we ai'e now left without either scout or guard, 
apprehend we are in imminent danger, yet loath to yield our- 
selves such an easy prey to our enemies, or suffer ruin by 
leaving our improvements waste, — one whereof we have no 
reason to tliink but must unavoidably be our lot unless the 
government compassionately grants us protection." 

This application for soldiers to protect the inhabitants is 
signed by twenty-three persons ; among whom appear the 
names of Wilkins, Shepard, Pcabody, Hutchinson, Cheever, 
Howard, Hartshorn, Bixbc, Seetown, Bradford, Ellenwood, 
Clark, Towne, Lyon, Stiles. These were among the earliest 
land-owners ; and tlieir descendants continue with us unto 
this day. The hardships of the first settlers were not readily 
mitigated, as we may infer from their continued apprehension 
of attacks from the Indians, and the necessity of maintain- 
ing guards and scouts and ranging companies at suitable ral- 
lying points in the territory. Certain houses w^ere entrenched 
by stockades, and the walls made bullet-proof for the shel- 
ter of women and children. There were seven of tliese gar- 
rison houses, at which a watch was maintained at different 
periods. Tlie Rev. Mr. Wilkins occupied one of the garrison 
houses, and took his turn in the watch which was maintained 
by the citizens whenever an invasion was threatened. For 
months in succession it was tlie habit of the men to carry 
their muskets to tlie meeting-liouse, to be within reach and 
ready to be lifted should an alarm be given during the ser- 
vice. The vigilance they practised reminds us of the pre- 
cautions taken by Nehemiah against Sanballat and Tobiah, 
the Arabians and the Ammonites, — in all which they were en- 
couraged by the example of the pastor, who came to the 
place of worship having his gun in one hand and his Bible 
in the other. Both implements of his warfare were taken 



15 

into the pulpit. The Indians frequently came hither with 
hostile intentions ; but the settlers usually obtained informa- 
tion of their designs, and no one was killed or taken captive 
from Amherst. According to a family tradition,* a i)arty 
under the lead of Dea. llobbsf fell in with the Indians, on a 
Sunday morning, when a smart fight ensued, in which Ilobbs 
displayed remarkable courage and prudence, bringing off his 
men with few wounded, — none mortally, — while they were 
positive that several Indians were killed. The result of 
this encounter was to give the men great rej)utation for 
bravery in circumstances of danger. The minister and 
others used to speak of the exploit with great satisfaction. 
On the other hand, it is reported that the Indians said that 
" Souhegan deacon no very good, — he fight Sabba day." The 
danger and annoyance from the Indians, which Farmer| as- 
signs to a period commencing ten years later, at the outbreak 
of the French and Indian war in western Virginia, in 1754, 
belongs in fact to this earlier period. In the expeditions 
sent out at the latter date for the defence of the colonies 
and the conquest of Canada, the inhabitants of Souhegan 
West shared with the neighboring towns in furnishing their 
proportion of soldiers ; and on the declaration of peace in 
1708, they shared in the prevailing sentiment of joy and 
gratitude at the relief. 

To return to the immediate interests of the parish. It is 
certain that the intentions of the proprietors in completing 
the meeting-house were not carried into full efiect in 1751, 

* Contained in a letter of Pliilip C. Williins, grandson of the minister. 

t "January the sixth, 1742, the church voted tliat there be five sacraments within a 
year, — the first, the first Sal)bath in JIarch, the second, tlie (irst Sabbatli in i\Iay," and 
thence bi-niontlily. The last sacrament was observed on the first Sabbath of Xovember. 

"At tlie same time tlie church chose Humphrey Hobbs deacon." This ofiice"he 
resigned in 1744, and James Cocliran was cliosen in his room." Dea. Ilobbs seems to 
have left town soon after, as he had command of a company of rangers employed la 
the defence of the settlements on Connecticut river, at Charlostown No. 4. lie had the 
courage and capacity of a true soldier, and is probably mentioned as Hobbs, cap- 
tain, in Report of Adj't-General N. H., Military History, vol. ii, p. 158. 

t N. U. Historical Collections, vol. v, p. 88. 



16 

thirteen years after the vote fixing the site and dimensions 
of the building, and eleven years after the frame was set up, 
— a delay which has its justification in their poverty and the 
pressure of adverse circumstances. In succeeding years we 
find votes for the assignment of seats, or " dignifying the 
house," as it was called in Massachusetts ; also, petitions from 
some who wished to sit together " for the better control of 
their families in worship ; " requests that the "quiresters might 
sit in company to improve the psalmody or religious singing." 
On one page, the young men petition that they "may make 
seats on the beams in front of the meeting-house," — probably 
the unfinished gallery, — and others of a similar import, 
aiming at better accommodations. On the first application, 
these requests were usually negatived ; but better opinions 
prevailed, and, in the progress of years, families were allowed 
to sit in companies, the singers were brought together, and 
pew ground was assigned to those who would pay for it, — 
the money being applied " to finishing up the mccting-house." 

At the best, the arrangements of the first house of worship 
must have been inconvenient, and when any improvements 
were attempted, difficulties would be suggested which usual-- 
ly defeated these designs. On the incorporation of the town, 
there were fresh reasons for postponement, as the question 
then arose " whether the house belonged to the town or to 
the proprietors," — the conflict of ownership affording suffi- 
cient reason to hinder any outlay of money. On what terms, 
or at what date the ownership was adjusted, I cannot deter- 
mine. The town at length held possession ; and these delays, 
with the consequent vexations, may have served a useful j)ur- 
pose in preparing the community to build another and more 
commodious house of worship. 

Before I speak of the origin of the new house, the building 
in which we are now assembled, it will be of service to no- 
tice some of the changes which had transpired, affecting the 
prosperity of the township. In 1741, the inhabitants, much 
against their wishes, had come under the jurisdiction of the 



17 

province of New Hampshire ; and in 1760, on the 18th day 
of January, one hundred and fourteen years ago this day, 
a charter was granted, by which the town was incorporated 
by the name Amherst. The population was sufficient to se- 
cure a representative to tlie general court. Mr. Wilkins was 
chosen minister of the town, with a salary of X47 10s. ster- 
ling money of Great Britain, or its equivalent in the currency 
or products of the country. 

The tedious and exhausting war with the French had ter- 
minated successfully in the conquest of Canada. Agricul- 
ture had revived ; domestic arts and manufactures began to 
engage the attention of the people ; and a more equitable and 
easy administration of justice was now demanded. Hitherto 
the town of Amherst lay wholly on the north side of the 
Souhegan river, — the town of Monson, which was situated be- 
tween this place and Hollis, lying on the south. For some 
cause not fully understood at this day, there was an antip- 
athy to the people of Monson, which led the people of 
Amherst to reject all proposals for annexation. They even 
refused them a place in the meeting-house, " unless they 
would severally be assessed to support the minister;" but in 
1770, about the time of the final distribution of the proprie- 
tors' lands by the action of the general court, Monson was 
divided between Amherst and Ilollis. By this arrangement 
a strip of land, some two miles in breadth and six in 
length, — say thirteen square miles, — was added to the terri- 
tory, and several families, needing church accommodations, 
to the population. In the meantime a lively competition 
■was started among the townships of this region in hope of 
obtaining the county seat, whenever the expected division of 
the state, by shires or counties, should be established. Peti- 
tions, counter-petitions, and remonstrances were sent from 
the places most interested to the assembly. A remonstrance, 
■which has attracted special notice, went from this place, 
■written by Mr. Wilkins, against making Merrimack the 
shire town. The precise influence of these efforts cannot 
2 



18 

now be determined ; Uit on llie formation of Hillsborough 
county, Amherst became the shire town. In anticipation of 
this decision, a new imj)ortance was given to the i)lace. Men 
of enterprise seeking business, and professional gentlemen 
moving hither, the town voted "to build a new meeting- 
house, to be located on the training field, seventy-five by fifty 
feet," — a huge, barn-like structure; also, voted "to raise 
£150 lawful money towards defraying expenses of said 
building." 

This plan was subsequently modified by a change which 
dirainislied the size of the structure, and provided somewhat 
for its embellishment. They voted to contract the dimen- 
sions, by taking five feet from the length and five from the 
breadth ; to have a porch at one end, and a steeple, with 
belfry and weathercock, at the other. This was the approved 
pattern at that period. Previously, if a meeting-house had 
tower and bell, the spire rose from the centre of the roof, 
and the bell-rope came to the floor in the middle aisle. 

A measure of such importance as the erection of a new 
meeting-house was not carried without much excitement and 
debate. The opposition was strong, — but not unanimous, or 
the project would have failed. The interests of " Chestnut 
Hill folks and of Monson folks" were of course antagonistic. 
People in the north-west part of the town grumbled at the 
prospect of paying towards a new house in which they were 
not to worship, and the district embracing Shepard's mills 
was thoroughly disaffected. Petitions crowded upon the 
selectmen, and a town-meeting was called November 6, 1770, 
for the purpose "of annulling or modifying the previous votes, 
and see if the town would not consent to repair the old 
house;" but the majority were united and unyielding, and 
they voted " to ratify, establish, and confirm the previous 
action of the town, and refused to repair the old meeting- 
house." Then followed a series of meetings to change the 
location ; but they were ineffectual. The objection, that the 
site was too wet at certain seasons of the year, did not pre- 



19 

vail ; and the alleged superiority "of a location near the unit- 
ed roads for good underpinning and freedom from water" 
did not convince those who preferred the site on the training 
jfield. The building committee, who supervised the work, 
consisting of Robert Read, Samuel McKean, Archelaus 
Towne, John Shepard, Jr., and Moses Nichols, adopted "the 
plan of the old North Church in Concord," so pleasantly as- 
sociated in our minds with the fruitful ministry of Rev. Dr. 
McFarland. The house was set broad side to the south, with 
folding doors opening from the broad aisle on an ample pave- 
ment, flanked by two horse-blocks. The work was com- 
menced in the spring of 1771, the town manifesting its hos- 
pitality by voting ami)lc supplies of victuals and drink for all 
who should attend the raising. The occasion brought togeth- 
er a great company, strong men and agile, besides many 
spectators. The committee of entertainment must have 
managed with some discretion, not exceeding their instruc- 
tions, that, with such powers to distribute New England 
rum among the thirsty crowd, the huge timbers of this mas- 
sive frame were set in their places without serious injury to 
life or limb. The master-builder was Dea. Ephraim Barker, 
who had a wide reputation as a skilful mechanic. 

It illustrates the habits of this pei'iod to learn that the rais- 
ing was followed by athletic games and feats of strength. The 
iron-sided men, who were present from far and near, must not 
separate without an exhil/ition of their strength and agility. 
On this occasion there was a wrestling match ; and the min- 
ister's son, afterwards Dea. Samuel Wilkins, ran a short dis- 
tance on a wager, " carrying on his shoulders the chairman of 
the building committee, who, like Eli of old, was fat and heavy 
— probably the heaviest man then in town." 

In December the town voted " to finish the outside of the 
meeting-house, clapboard and glaze the same, complete the 
steeple, and lay floors." One hundred and sixty pounds were 
granted to pay the expenses thus far. 

For various reasons the work proceeded slowly. The 



20 

people were poor, and serious dissensions impaired tlieir 
strength. Portions of the town were dissatisfied, and con- 
sequently reluctant to pay their taxes. 

Otlier matters of grave concern were pressing on their at- 
tention. The people of New Hampshire, in sympatliy with 
the citizens of Massachusetts, had long regarded, with min- 
gled feelings of dread and indignation, the acts of the Brit- 
ish parliament. The course of adverse legislation, the stamp 
and tea tax, which led sagacious men like Adams and Fiank- 
lin to anticipate a separation of the colonies from the mother 
country, and the assertion of their independence, had now 
reached a point when open resistance was freely talked. Re- 
membering the persistent encroachments of England upon 
their liberties, the people welcomed the idea of making com- 
mon cause with other colonies in plans of mutual coopera- 
tion and defence. The discipline of the French and Indian 
war had begotten a thoroughly military spirit in this part of 
the land. There was no lack of courage ; but the poverty of 
the citizens was undeniable. Whence could they obtain the 
materials of war, the arms and ammunition, requisite to con- 
tend with such a power as Great Britain ? These questions 
were already holding the thoughts of multitudes. We detect 
their presence in the action taken at the town-meetings. In 
September, following the dedication of this meeting-house, by 
vote of the town, a building is constructed for the safe stor- 
ing of powder. It was suljstantial, being made of chestnut 
logs hewn twelve inches square, and covered with plaster. 
If any are impatient of the delays attending the completion 
of the building, let them consider that the minds of the peo- 
ple were sorely distracted by local dissensions, which found 
adjustment only in the formation of two other parishes or 
townships, besides the uncertainty and excitement attending 
the ripening apprehension of conflict with Great Britain. 

Of the services at the dedication we have no minute in- 
formation. It had not been the custom in New England to 
set apart places of worship by a solemn public consecration. 



21 

The first house was never formally dedicated. On this oc- 
casion several ministers were present as the guests of Mr. 
Wilkins. We have no record of the names, but tlie neigh- 
boring ministers might be expected, e. g., Livermore of Wil- 
ton, Goodrich of Lyndeborough, Kidder of Dunstable, Emer- 
son of HoUis, Burnap of Merrimack, to whom he extended 
the right hand of fellowship two years before, and possibly 
some visitors from the older towns of Essex county, Mass. 
A sermon was preached by the pastor, in which he is said to 
have given a history of the church and the early transactions 
of the settlement. Could we but recover the MS., what 
light it would throw upon the habits, the religious doctrines 
and worship, of the first inhabitants ! We have no question 
of the genuineness of their faith and of the sincerity of their 
love. A people moving into the forests, to clear for them- 
• selves homesteads in the solitudes of the wilderness, do not 
take on themselves the burden of building meeting-houses 
and sustaining ministers without deep convictions of the 
value of the gospel. But it would gratify our reverent curi- 
osity to know more exactly how these men felt, what operated 
to cheer and what to depress them, what books they read, 
■what tunes they sung, how they fared in the winter* without 
the regular service. But the records are very scanty. In 
gratitude to God*, they set down the names of the children 
as they were baptized ; but of their own toils, their prayers, 
their self-denial, and their achievements, they say nothing. 
The strength of their devotion may be inferred from their 
sacrifices to maintain worship and their belief of the truth, 
from the unfaltering purpose to train up their children under 
the instructions of an orthodox ministry. 

In Dec. 4, 1771, before the new meeting-house was ready 
for occupation, on the question of giving the old meeting- 

*From letters and various memorandums, it appears that before the forests were cut 
off the snow accumulated in such quantities that the roads in winter were impassable. 
The people went abroad on rackets; and contracts for the delivery of fuel and lumber 
provided that the same should be drawn on the March crust, when teams could usu- 
ally move in any direction, with no obstruction save buildings and trees. 



9,9 



house to the county for a court-house, we read, — " Secondly, 
voted, and hereby do give, grant, and forever quit claim all 
our right, title, interest, claim, and property in and unto our 
old meeting-house in said Amherst, to the justices of the 
court of general sessions of the peace for said county, for 
the use of said county, reserving to ourselves the privilege 
of congregating in said house from time to time, as we shall 
see meet, for the space of two years, to commence from this 
time, without having it made inconvenient for that purpose ; 
reserving to ourselves the right to remove the pulpit out of 
the house at any time within the two years aforesaid : Pro- 
vided, nevertheless, and the above vote is upon this condi- 
tion, that the justices aforesaid cause a new county jail to be 
erected within one hundred and sixty rods of said house, as 
it now stands ; otherwise, the above vote and every clause 
therein contained to be void." 

The conditions prescribed by the town were accepted, the 
jail erected on the spot where stands the old county house, 
and the first house of worship was transferred from the use 
of the church to the service of the state.* At the expira- 
tion of the tw^o years, as we liave seen, the new house was 
dedicated to the worship of God. The floor of the house or 
pew ground was subsequently sold at auction to the highest 
bidder, the purchasers erecting pews at thtsir own cost, un- 
der the direction of a committee, who were instructed to 
have "three tiers of pews on the south side, one on the 
north, two tiers at the east end, and two tiers at the west 
end ; alleys to be between the pews and seats, and between 
the pews : " a description which becomes intelligible when 
we learn that below the pulpit were seats for the deacons, 
and, across the aisle from them, rows of seats for the aged 
men, the fathers of the congregation. The pews intended 
for families were eight or ten feet square, surmounted by a 

*In 1789 this building was removed from the original site to the plain, and, before it 
was quite finished, burned by the fire of an incendiary. Memoir of Joshua Atherton, 
p. 31. 



23 

rail, which was supported hy small wooden balusters, through 
which the children could peer out and get a view of the 
galleries and the inmates of adjoining pews. The pulpit or 
" imprisonment " was built high np against the north wall, 
having a narrow stair-case on the left or west side, " and a 
door that shut the preacher in." Over the sacred desk, and 
hanging from the ceiling by an iron rod, was the sounding- 
board, an ol)ject of wonder and curious speculation to all 
the juvenile hearers, wlio were meritally asking what would 
happen if it should fall upon the minister. " The scats," we 
are told, " were not on golden hinges hung," and as they 
were lifted, when the congregation rose, the uprising and 
down-sitting of the people were accompanied with a crash 
and clatter not unlike the discharge of musketry on training 
days. The pews also had arm-rests and leaning-boards for 
the support of weary heads. When these bars were lifted, 
being set upright, something formidable migh't have been 
anticipated from this bristling movement. The house had 
galleries on three sides, supported by smooth, substantial 
wooden columns, which were painted in imitation of marble. 
Against the walls was a tier of pews, in front of which were 
seats for strangers, for domestics, a reserved bench for the 
blacks, and in front of the preacher a section of the gallery 
was set apart for the singers. Tlie rich and poor met togeth- 
er in the sanctuary, and united in recognizing the Lord their 
maker ; but it was not in harmony with the ideas of that day 
that they should sit together ; — hence the divisions, arrange- 
ments, and orders of which I have spoken. The churches 
were democratic in their theories of church government and 
membership, but they were not yet emancipated from the force 
of hereditary customs. The various arrangements for the 
accommodation of worshippers were not completed at once. 
Several years elapsed before the house was furnished through- 
out with seats in the style which you associate with the 
palmy days of Dr. Lord's ministry. In the ordering of the 
house of God, changes were esteemed dangerous innovations, 



24 

and the proposition to assign seats to the singers, " for the 
better regulation of psalmody," came before the town sev- 
eral times witliout approval. The affairs of the country 
had the precedence of all other matters and things, — " the 
acts of the grand congress at Philadelphia," the business of 
providing soldiers, procuring salt and powder, designating 
committees of safety, and choosing delegates to state and 
county conventions. These duties, together with measures 
of relief for soldiers' families, and safeguards against the in- 
trigues of tories, gave the people sufficient occupation. The 
inevitable anxiety attending the exhausting conflict was aggra- 
vated by differences of opinion respecting the principles and 
conduct of public men, and the consequent exasperation and 
bitterness of feeling did not subside with the close of the war. 
Contrary to what might have been our expectation, the re- 
turn of peace brought no relief from political strife. The 
questions that became prominent i-cspected tlie relation of 
the new states to one another and the general government. 
Local questions of civil riglits, the jurisdiction of courts and 
magistrates, also required adjustment; the choice of rulers, 
and the selection of delegates to settle the powers and du- 
ties of state officers and frame a constitution, were impera- 
tive affairs. Almost all of these subjects were brought be- 
fore the citizens in their primary meetings. The importance 
which they attached to them is evinced in the appointment 
of large committees for counsel and correspondence, and 
frequent adjournments to wait further information. 

Meanwhile, Pastor Wilkins growing infirm and needing 
an assistant, the duty of supplying the pulpit w'as intrusted 
to a committee in 1776, who were to employ " such young 
preachers as they chose." Soon after, the congregation were 
evidently interested in Mr. Sweatland, and wislied to secure 
his services. In 1778, liberal proposals were made to Mr. 
John Blydenburg to settle as colleague with Mr. Wilkins ; 
bul without success. Similar propositions were offered Mr. 
Edmund Foster, which he declined. In the autumn of 1779, a 



25 

call was extended to Rev. Jeremiah Barnard,* of Bolton, 
Mass., on similar terms. He was willing to accept; but the 
ordination did not occur till the following March, when the 
sermon was preached by Rev. Zabdiel Adams of Lunenburg, 
Bridge of Chelmsford giving the charge, and Emerson of 
Hollis the right hand of fellowship. The oj)position to his 
settlement was in part personal, some of the liearcrs prefer- 
ring a more positive style of preaching; for it was manifest 
that Mr. Barnard did not jircsent the doctrines, as tliey were 
called, with much prominence and pungency. But tliis con- 
sideration had less weight than territorial interests. For obvi- 
ous reasons, the settlers on the green hills of the north-west 
desired the benefits of a ministry nearer home. They lived 
remote from the first meeting-house, and the second was yet 
half a mile farther off by the travelled way. They had en- 
tered into agreements to support Mr. Willvins, and to pay 
other charges until they should be set off as the second 
parish. Of course they were determined not to sliare in ad- 
ditional burdens. On the other hand, it was to be said that 
the population of the town (1,428 in '75) was not too large 
for one parish. The majority did not wish the territory di- 
vided ; their local importance, tlieir wealth or numbers, 
diminished; — and the import of their successive votes, in 
answer to the petitions from the north-west, make it clear 
that they would not let that people go if they could help it. 
The struggle was carried on for years in various shapes, some- 
times involving litigation in which the majority were not 
always successful ; and in September, 1780, only six months 
after Mr. Barnard's ordination, the second church in Am- 
herst was formed, and the ecclesiastical strife, in that direc- 
tion, ended. From that date tlie town acted as a parish. 

Tiie efforts that had been made for the formation of a 
third parish in the south-west part of the town, wliich re- 
sulted in the organization of a church in 1788, also originated 

* Mr. B. was the son of Robert Barnard, of Bolton, Mass., where he was born Feb 
28, 1750. He graduated at Harvard college in 1773. 



26 

in pleas of greater convenience for the inhabitants ; but the 
arguments were not so obviously just ; and subsequent events 
incline one to the opinion that the movement had in it " an 
element of carnal policy." The town of Amherst owed 
much to the ministry of Rev. Mr. Wilkins. We have no 
statistics from which to deduce exact statements respecting 
the results of his ministry. From all that I can gather, he 
was a man of great simplicity and purity of character. 
Having an intelligent and well-balanced mind, he made 
himself the guardian and friend of his people. In their 
perils and discouragements he shared in their distresses, 
and bade them take heart. Twice, probably, in the history 
of the plantation, his counsels prevented their abandoning 
the territory. He must have been patient, and of a scholarly 
turn of mind ; he must have been diligent in pastoral labors, 
teaching them by families, or he would not have instructed 
the people so thoroughly. He was evidently wise and kind, 
or he would not have held so large a place in their affections. 
In person, he was a thick-set but well-formed man, of ruddy 
countenance and genial speech. At the age of sixt3^-thrce his 
mental faculties became impaired, and he was unequal to the 
duties of the ministry ; but the people cared for him thouglitful- 
ly, seeking his presence and services in their families as long 
as he could venture abroad. When he died the town assumed 
the whole expense of his burial, and honored his grave by a 
monument on which they inscribed in glowing words their 
admiration of his virtues, and their grateful remembrance of 
his laborious services as their minister. 

The years following the close of the revolution were 
marked by a general decline in the tone of religious feeling. 
Infidelity prevailed widely among men of wealth and culture. 
The claims of piety were openly derided, and the fashionable 
sentiment favored a thoughtless and jovial manner of life. 
The minds of men were agitated by political questions, in 
which pastors and churches were often involved. The 
formation of the national and state constitutions, the inau- 



27 

guration of new ofBccrs, the interpretation of their ])o\vers 
and duties under the new administration, the adoption of a 
better system of finance, the introduction of new industries, 
and the necessity of repairing the wastes of tlie war, en- 
grossed the attention of the people. Tlie concerns of relig- 
ion were very much crowded aside. Amherst, being the 
shire town, the seat of the courts, in what had become a 
thickly settled portion of the state, became the resort of 
lawyers, politicians, and patriots. The Hillsborough county 
bar was distinguished for the talent and legal ability of its 
members. The sessions of the court occupied several weeks 
of the year, and the business was of such importance as to 
bring hither the foremost lawyers of the state. The town al- 
so became the centre of a large and lucrative trade, and the 
population in 1790 reached two thousand three hundred and 
sixtj'-nine. As a consequence of this prosperity, aristocratic 
tastes and customs prevailed, — a fondness for gaming, danc- 
ing, and convivial entertainments, which did not favor sobri- 
ety or a serious tone of thought. 

There was little in Mr. Barnard's })reaching to disturb the 
prevailing sentiment. He was an amiable man, made his 
house attractive to the young people, and in various ways 
contributed to the good order and social culture of the com- 
munity. His sympathies were not with the Calvin istic school 
of ministers, and as years advanced his chosen associates 
were of the less evangelical type. During the period of 
his active ministry two hundred and fifty-three persons were 
admitted to full communion, an average of seven per annum. 
Several others owned the covenant, as it was called, and had 
their children baptized. This is not the place to discuss the 
merits of that custom ; but the erroneous practice was dis- 
continued before the settlement of his successor. At this 
day it is not easy to pronounce judgment on the actual fruits 
of Mr. Barnard's ministry. He entered the field while the 
land was overshadowed by the war-cloud of the revolution, 
and his retirement from active duties was close upon the 



28 

conclusion of the war of 1815. How far these events con- 
tributed to the predominant political tone of his sermons I 
cannot determine. The dissatisfaction felt by many who 
loved a more discriminating gospel was doubtless increased 
by this patriotic zeal for the federal side in politics. It has 
also operated to the prejudice of Mr. Barnard's ministry that, 
like Mr. Wilkins, he lived many years after he became infirm 
and quite unequal to public service, and during that time he 
was not altogether in sympathy with his earnest and success- 
ful colleagues. Unless we assume that Amherst was unusu- 
ally favored in the additions to its population from abroad, 
the ministry of Mr. Barnard must have been of much practi- 
cal force, or the people would not, by such majorities, have 
welcomed a preacher like his successor. Mr, Barnard lived 
to the advanced age of eight3'-four, dying January 15, 1835.* 
We now reach a period which is well known by tradition to 
this generation. Your fathers worshipped in this house, and 
some of their number joined in the call by which Mr. Nathan 
Lord, of South Berwick, Me., became pastor. Tlie vote of 
the church is said to have been unanimous, and the town 
concurred with them in tlieir action. At the ordination, 
Dr. McFarland preached the sermon; Rev. David McGregor 
offered the prayer of consecration ; the senior pastor gave 
the charge; and Rev. Dr. Moore gave the right hand of fellow- 
ship.! 

]\Ir. Lord had very positive and distinct views of the 
duties of the ministry, and he brouglit to the perform- 
ance of those duties a vigorous and well-trained mind. 
His preaching was marked by clearness of statement, neat- 
ness and precision of style, and a prevailing seriousness 

* For list of Mr. Barnard's published writings, see Farmer's History (New Hamp- 
shire Historical Society's Collection), vol. v, p. 115. 

t The sermon, charge, and fellowship of the churches, delivered on that occasion, were 
published by R. Boylston, Amherst, 1816. Dr. Lord, son of Hon. John Lord, was born 
at South Berwick, Me., 28th of November, 1792; graduated Bowdoin College, 1809; 
Andover Seminary, 181.5; pastor, 1816-1828 ; president Dartmouth college, 1828-1863; 
died at Hanover 9th of September, 1870. 



29 

which kindled the sensibilities of'his hearers. His enthu- 
siasm in presenting and defending the Edwardean theology, 
awakened the sympatliy of many in the church, while his 
tact and culture enlisted friends in the congregation. He 
was a good organizer, and had much tact in dealing with 
men. The affairs of the church, which had fallen into 
neglect, were straightened and reduced to order ; discipline 
was restored, and the spiiitual forces of the gospel soon 
began to assert their power in the community. Worldly 
men were troubled, and various methods were tried to hinder 
the growing seriousness. The opposition to his jjreaching, 
however, served to unite the hearts of his supporters,* 
and begat in them a watchful and earnest spirit. Men of 
prominence for ability and influence were brought into the 
church, and a new tone of spiritual activity animated the 
whole body. As the opposition to his ministry turned on 
questions of theological belief,! an earnest controversy arose, 
in which the doctrinal position of the majority was clearly 
defined. No wisdom or prudence, on the part of the })astor, 
could prevent the open rupture w'hich resulted in a secession 
of part of the church and congregation. " The year 182-J:," 
writes the Rev. Silas Aiken, " brought with it severe trials 
to both the pastor and the church, in the withdrawment of 
several members, in order to form a Unitarian church in 
connection with a new society^ recently established, and to 
come under the pastoral care of Rev. E. Q. Sewall. But in 
all these trials the Lord assisted them. He brought Zion 

*The Tuesday afternoon prayer-meeting, wliich is still maintained by the church, 
was instituted at the house of the junior pastor during these trials, April 4, 1S23. 

t The style and matter of the discussion that agitated this community, may be learned 
by consulting the tiles of the Farmer's Cabinet for 1S17-1S. 

t At a special town-meeting, Nov. 18th. 1822, the disaffected members of Mr. Lord's 
congregation asked the use of the church their proportion of the time; vote, — yeas, 87, 
nays, 131. IS'24, March 27, Charles H. Atherton, David Holmes, Epliruim JJIanchard, 
Elisha F. Wallace, and their associates, forniid themselves into a religious society, and 
took the name and style of" The Christian Society in Amherst." The Unitarian meet- 
ing-house (03x4.''. feet) was rai.sed June 9, 1835, under direction of Jolm Cronibie, Jr., of 
New Boston. Dedicated, Nov. 24. Sermon by Kev. Mr. Maynard, pastor, from Acts 
17: 24. This house is now occupied by the IJaptists. 



30 

out of all her troubles, and set her feet in a large place." 
On the failure of his voice, Mr. Lord resigned, and, having 
a call to the presidency of Dartmouth college, he was dis- 
missed Nov. 22, 1828, to accept that office.* The additions 
to the churcli under his ministry gave new force to the institu- 
tions of religion ; the church was homogeneous in sentiment, 
its discipline reestablished, and the way prepared for the 
enlargement of its numbers on the evangelical basis. 

On the 4th March of the following year, in compliance 
with a unanimous call from the Congregational church and 
society (the relation of the town to the support of the min- 
istry having ceased). Rev. Silas Aiken was settled. The 
services of his ordination f are still remembered, and the es- 
teemed pastors who officiated at the time. Mr. Aiken brought 
to the ministry certain gifts by which he was qualified for 
special usefulness in tliis field. He had not the polished 
manners and graceful address of Dr. Lord. He was tall and 
strongly built, with a certain abruptness and angularity of 
movement consequent upon a shy and reserved nature. He 
had vigorous health, strong lungs, a stalwart frame, great 
natural shrewdness, and a masculine understanding. He 
analyzed his subject and laid out the plan witli strong hand- 
ling, and the filling up was wrought with intense feeling. In 
this was the secret of his power. Often, when preaching, 
the emotions of his great heart hurried him on into strains 



*1828. Dec. 16th, Perley Raymond, Timothy D. Wood, and John Hazeltine, with 
their associates, united in forming a religious society by the name of the " First Metho- 
dist Society in Amherst," with the intention of maintaining worship on Chestnut hills. 
April 9, 1839, at the suggestion of Rev. John Adams, John Haseltine, Solomon Barron, 
Loammi Eaton, Levi Duncklee, and their associates, formed themselves into a society, 
talcing the name of the "First Methodist Society." In April, 1840, they took posses- 
sion of the lot, on which their house of worship now stands, and in which slips were 
sold to members in February, 1841. 

fThe sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Green, of Boston; prayer of ordination 
by Rev. Eli Smith, of Hollis; charge to the pastor by Kev. Dr. Church; fellowship of 
the churches by Rev. A. Richards; address to the people by Rev. Mr. Nott, of Nashua. 
Dr. Aiken, son of Phineas Aiken, was born in Bedford, May 14,1799; graduated at 
Dartmouth college, 1825; ordained pastor, 1829,— at Amherst till 1837; Park street, 
Boston, 1S37-1848; Rutland, Vt., 1849-1863; trustee Dartmouth college, 1840-1862; died 
at Rutland, April 7, 1869. 



01 

of fervid and subduing eloquence. In these seasons of im- 
passioned address, he literally besought men with tears to be 
reconciled to God. The success of his ministry in a'athcrinsi; 
converts was great * beyond precedent. Of the ministry of 
his successors, Rev. F. A. Adams, vn. ©., and Rev. W. T. 
Savage, d.d., who were both able and scholarly men, I make 
no sketch. Each of thcni j)erformcd valuable services here, 
and in other fields of Christian labor they have won an en- 
viable reputation for talents and fidelity. 

The church, which was organized in 1741 by six members, 
in the simplest form of Congregationalism, out of a popula- 
tion of fourteen families, had increased, under the four pas- 
torates which I have delineated, to a membership of three 
hundred and eight in a population of sixteen hundred, with 
two other churches in the township. The average of annual 
additions for the last ninety-three years is ten ; and the whole 
number, from the formation of the church to this date, must 
be nearly eleven hundred and fifty. 

But the real usefulness of a church and the ordinances of 
worship is not to be stated in figures. Who shall estimate 
the value of the influences emanating from this sanctuary, 
as they have moulded and enriched the minds and hearts of 
tills people and their descendants ! Who can trace the 
various lines of profitable thought, of virtuous endeavor, and 
self-denying Christian duty here started ! Who shall measure 
the enlargement of mind, the elevation and refinement of 
feeling, consequent on the manifestation of the truth from 
this pulpit ! Who will tell us how much of sin has been 



* In the spring of 1835 llip Spirit " came dowTi liko showers that water the earth."' 
The week of the annual state Fast was wholly given to the work, with preaching twice 
a day, inquiry and prayer meetings morning and evening. Business was mainly sus- 
pended ; and the whole population seemed drawn by a heavenly influence to the Iiouse 
of God. The great question witli all seemed to be,—" What must I do to be saved? " 
Fathers, mothers, children,— in some cases, whole families,— yielded to the Spirit, and 
became obedient to the heavenly vision. The pastor labored with a strong hand, and 
willing, joyful heart, characteristically declaring " that though there was much work to 
be done, when seed-time and harvest came together"' it was easy working. As the re- 
sult of this revival, one hundred and one members united with the church, nearly all of 
whom honored their professions. [From the manuscript of Dea. E. D. Boijlston. 



32 

restrained, liow much of folly prevented, how much of suffer- 
ing saved, by the counsels here uttered ! Who will anticipate 
the rewards of that consecration which hallowed this terri- 
itory for more than a century, as it will appear in the divine 
records of sins forgiven, souls purified, and men redeemed ! 
These servants of Christ, having served their generation by 
the will of God, have fallen asleep. " They rest from their 
labors, and their works do follow them." 

[At tliis point, while the speaker paused, the choir sang, with pleasing 
effect, the following stanzas : 

Though earthly sliepherds dwell in dust, 

The aged and the young; 
The watchful eye in darkness closed, 

And mute the instructive tongue, — 

The eternal Shepherd still survives, 

New comfort to impart; 
His eye still guides us, and his voice 

Still animates our heart. — Doddiige.'] 

The history of church music, as it has been employed in. 
this house and in the earlier sanctuary, would furnish an 
entertaining chapter. In the absence of any record, as the 
gift of song runs in families, we may assume that John Sea- 
town, the first deacon of the name and fourth in order of elec- 
tion, was a leader under Pastor Wilkins. We should not 
probably err in asserting that he pitched the tune and led in 
the psalm, standing in front and below the pulpit, as his son 
and successor in office did thirty-five years afterwards. At 
that period " Sternhold & Hopkins," or the " Bay State Collec- 
tion of Psalms and Hymns," was used in this vicinity. The 
choice of tunes did not exceed twelve in the three metres. 

One story survives, which deserves preservation for the 
benefit of distracted parishes. It appears that Pastor Wilkins 
and the singers had introduced a new hymn book (probably 
the incoming version of Dr. I. Watts), to which some in the 
congregation were violently opposed. The excitement was 



33 

so great that a compromise was attempted by using the new 
version only for the last tune, " when tlie opposers retired 
from the house, rather than hear the words of the devil." 
"Mr. Wilkins," says the chronicler, "thought these persons 
did not know what they were opposing." He accordingly 
arranged an exchange ; and the new minister began with the 
new version, and used it all day. At the last singing the 
disaffected hearers left the meeting as usual ; but when they 
learned soon after that they had heard the hated tunes all 
day without knowing it, the opposition became so ludicrous 
that they were content to say no more about it." 

In Mr. Barnard's day "the quiresters" were permitted to 
sit together; and, while it was their duty to make har- 
mony for others, they did not always maintain peace among 
themselves. On one occasion, when the singers were in 
practice for the apjiroaching Fourth of July, some otfence 
was taken ; and on the following Sabbath "the chorister, the 
pastor's son-iu-law, found himself alone in the singing-seats. 
Not Avilling to sing alone, he also retired. When Mr. Bar- 
nard rose in the pulpit, the seats were empty. After the in- 
troductory service, he read a hynm. Then, laying .down the 
book with some energy, he called on the congregation to 
unite in prayer." Not much time elapsed before he took up 
the singers, " praying that, if they would not unite in prais- 
ing the Lord in the sanctuary, they might not be permitted 
to sing together on any occasion whatever. Going on in this 
strain for some time, the singers thought it best to return. 
First, the chorister took his place, then the next in rank, un- 
til finally, before the close of the prayer, the scats were filled ; 
and the second hymn was responded to with unwonted 
power." In 'the closing period of Mr. Barnard's ministry, 
Jonathan Hildreth acted as chorister, and his services were 
widely esteemed. 

There was a large choir in Dr. Lord's time, as a place in 
the singing-pews was a coveted distinction ; and when the 
ranks " were full the singing meant something. With bass 
3 



34 

viol, violin, and brazen instruments (says my informant), 
and such voices as Benjamin Kendrick's, Ambrose Seaton's, 
Mary Goss's, and twenty others, male and female, the people 
could make melody in their hearts if they desired to." 

The introduction of organs marks a later period, and 
brings to mind the assiduous zeal of Mrs. Prentiss, and the 
almost affectionate solicitude of Bro. Aaron Lawrence, with 
the sturdy presence, clear tenor voice, and piping violin of 
Mr. Elbridge Hardy. I could speak of other male and female 
singers who have contributed to our edification and delight 
in the sacred service of song and praise. 

" Music, when soft voices die, 
Vibrates iu the memory." 

I recall the names of many, both of the living and the 
dead, towards whom we feel more gratitude than we have 
ever expressed. 

The house in which we are assembled occupied the spot 
on which it was raised, and in substantially the form ah-eady 
described, for 65 years ; two generations, with thronging 
families, had gathered within its capacious walls for worship. 
Up to the year 1832 the house had been held and controlled 
by the town, in the interest of the majority. Witli the 
change in the statutes, respecting the support of religious 
institutions in New Hampshire, the town disposed of the 
house by auction to the highest bidder, reserving only the 
tower, clock, and bell, when the building became the property 
of the Congregational society. The necessity of thorough 
repairs and of improved accommodations for seating the 
worshippers was manifest to all. The work of remodelling 
and removing was commenced in 1836, when' the building 
was turned half round, and then moved backwards from the 
common to the site on which it now stands. The galleries 
were taken down, the floor raised, new windows inserted, 
and the building so extended as to embrace the porch which 
sustained the steeple. By this means a gallery was con- 



35 

stnicted over tlie entry, which fiiniished seats for the choir. 
With a new pulpit, and pews of the modern pattern, the 
house was accepted by the congregation from the contractor, 
Mr. Jona. Knight, with expressions of approbation. The 
house was reoccupied January 1, 1837, when Dr. Aiken 
preached a sermon from 2 Chron. 6:18, "on the end for 
wliich houses of worship are reared, and the means by which 
that end can be secured." The occasion was one of mem- 
orable interest, as the preacher gave utterance to his earnest 
thoughts on the duty of {)ul)lic worship, and the obligation 
that binds men to make the services of tlie earthly sanctuary 
the means of preparation for tlie kingdom of heaven. 

From that date no essential changes were made in the 
structure or furnishing of the house till 1857, when the 
pulpit was refitted, the aisles recarpeted, and the pews paint- 
ed, the expense being defrayed by tiie ladies of the congre- 
gation. In 1858 the chapel,* a tasteful and convenient build- 
ing for social worship was erected by the contributions of 
individuals. On January 20, 1859, it was dedicated by suit- 
able religious services. Other outlays have been made, as 
occasions required, for the preservation of the meeting-house 
and the comfort of the worshippers. By the latest of these 
ap[)ropriations the gallery has been shut off and the audi- 
ence-room reduced to the original dimensions, the windows 
furnished with new sash-lights, the close pulpit exchanged 
for an open platform, with chairs and desk of choice Avork- 
manship, while a new and superior organ, on a raised floor, 
for the singers, at tlie west side of the pulpit, brings the 
choir before the audience and within easy communication 
with the preacher. 

It is a pleasant coincidence that, in refurnishing this house, 
these various improvements, — the organ, the pulpit, furniture, 
and other valuable accompaniments, the gifts of present and 
former worshippers, an expression of love to this church and 

* The contract for the chapel, taken by Jotliam Hartshorn & Sons, was performed in 
a very satisfactory manner. The entire cost was about $1,300. 



36 

of gratitude to God for benefits received here, — should, with- 
out special design, have been ready for service to-da}'. 

As the first tones from that noble instrument have called 
us to 

" Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," 

let our hearts respond by a renewed consecration to the 
author of these mercies, — the God of our salvation. 

This house of worship, ante-dating the declaration of the 
nation's independence, has stood unharmed througli the 
changes of a century. It has survived storms and tempests, 
the perils of fire, and tlie fitful vicissitudes of this uncertain 
climate. It has witnessed the civil revolutions, the modifi- 
cations of law and executive administrations, which intro- 
duced the republican form of government, and have made the 
United States of America a great name among the nations 
of the earth. It has also witnessed changes in arts and man- 
ufactures, in social customs, employments, modes of travel, 
and of domestic life, by which we are far removed from the 
simple, — I might say the straitened, — habits of the fathers. 

Of the four generations who have worshipped in this sanctu- 
ary, the first two were usually clothed in homespun gar- 
ments, the handiwork of wives and daughters who put tlieir 
hands to the distaff, and wrought in wool and flax and divers 
colors of needle-work. It was no unusual sight, of a Sab- 
bath morning in the olden times, to see at tlie farmer's door 
the horse, with saddle and pillion, prepared for the meeting. 
The older boys and girls having set forth on foot at an earlier 
hour, — the father mounted to hold a child in front, and the 
mother taking the seat behind, with the youngest in her 
arms, — the family became one troop as they reached the 
place of worship. It seems hardly credible, that, as late as 
1820, women of excellent standing in the out-districts walked 
to meeting with bare feet, carrying shoes and stockings in hand 
until nearing the church, when they put on these articles for 
the service, which were to be taken off again as they went 



37 

home. Amidst the snows of winter, ox-sleds were often iii 
requisition for the accommodation of neighboring households 
and the abounding delight of the young people. At the close 
of the religious services by which this house was dedicated, 
we are told by Dea. Samuel AVilkins that the assembled min- 
isters and dignitaries dined at the house of his father. The 
principal dish on the table was hasty-pudding and milk. 
" While they were eating, he told them a ludicrous story 
about catching a sheep, at which 'ye fathers were well pleased, 
and the pudding flew well.'" 

Other details of that and succeeding periods would liavc 
an equally strange and novel air to the larger portion of this 
audience. The state and customs of society existing in Dr. 
Lord's day are very much clianged. The great progress in 
the knowledge and science of music, the greatly enlarged 
and improved collections of psalmody, all the new and per- 
fected arrangements for ligliting and warming our houses of 
worship, illustrate the real advancement which has been 
made in our civilization. Very few, probably, in this house 
have heard a hymn " lined off" by the pastor in the Sabbath 
worship. That practice has ceased with the noise of viols, 
and the long drawn note of the pitch pipe. The days of the 
pillion, of foot-stoves, of home-spun garments and the ty th- 
ing-men, are gone — gone^ as irrecoverably as the stone horse- 
block from which sheriff Kelley proclaimed, by beat of drum, 
the l)irth-day of the nation, on the 18th of July, 1776. 

The meeting-house, as the name indicates, was the place 
of all public gatherings. Here the citizens assembled in 
their primary meetings to vote on town affairs ; here they 
rallied in patriotic conventions ; here they listened on recur- 
ring anniversaries to civic orations, agricultural addresses, 
educational lecturers, and whatever might be judged profita- 
ble to the body politic. Jury trials have, on more than one 
occasion, been held within these walls, and, in 1794, the 
members of the two houses of the New Hampshire legisla- 
ture stood here, with uncovered heads, to unite in seeking 



38 

the Divine guidance and blessing on their deliberations. It 
is probable that the sessions of tlie larger branch of that 
body were held in this room, for the want of better accom- 
modations. 

This house, always open to the sons and daughters of sor- 
sow, has not been frequently used for funeral services, — our 
afflicted families preferring a more private ceremonial ; and 
it has never been a fashion with us to resort to this place for 
the solemnization of marriages. Yet no other spot is asso- 
ciated more vividly with all those social changes — the sea- 
sons of sorrow and of joy that make life memorable — than 
this sanctuary. Hither you came in early childhood, delight- 
ing in the stirs and shows of the goodly company that 
thronged the way to the place of worship. Here you felt 
that mysterious pressure of reverent sentiment that accom- 
panies the presence of large numbers really intent on God's 
worship. Here you listened to prayer and praise, with emo- 
tions intensified by conscious union witli othefs engaged in 
the same duty. Here you have been pleased and wearied, — 
sometimes longing to hear more, and then impatient to be 
released, as your mood or your tastes may have harmonized 
with the preacher's efforts. Here, too, you have known the 
power of revealed truth, enlightening your conscience, search- 
ing your understanding, and awakening a sense of accounta- 
bility unfelt elsewhere. Whatever your use or improvement of 
the hours spent here, I know there are associations connect- 
ed with the old meeting-house that stir the deepest springs 
of your being. There is something in the company of fathers 
and mothers, of kindred, companions, and neighbors, wliich 
lends a pathos and weight to the word spoken here that few 
can resist. The audience-room may be architecturally defec- 
tive, the walls cold and unsightly ; there may be much 
that is grotesque in the dress or conduct of the worshippers ; 
and yet, if Christ be preached and God worshipped, the rude 
structure is thereby sanctified, and we say, This is holy 
ground. 



39 

This is true of hundreds of our New England temples, hut 
emphatically is it true to us, when we stand in the sanctuary 
where our fathers worshij)ped ; when we crowd the pews 
where mothers, sisters, and brothers sat by our sides and 
heard the gospel ; when we walk the aisles where we took 
upon us the vows of the Christian profession, "■avouching 
the Lord to be our God, and giving ourselves to Jesus Christ 
as the only Saviour." Here we " were made partakers of the 
heavenly gift, and tasted the powers of the world to come." 

"But will God in very deed dwell with men upon earth?" 
Of a truth, "the Lord our God hath been with us, as He 
was with our fathers," and " the glory of this latter house 
has been greater than of the former." Whatever the recog- 
nized value of the established institutions of religion, in 
their bearhigs on the cause of good order, sound morals, 
and popular education ; however important the meeting- 
house, as a source of healthful social influences, upholding 
law, encouraging virtue, and strengthening all humane and 
philanthropic sentiments, — still, its supremest power comes of 
the vital forces of the gospel, when the preaching of Jesus 
Christ and him crucified becomes the wisdom and the power 
of God unto salvation. Very memorable have been the dis- 
plays of Divine grace in this sanctuary. In the great 
ingatherings of 1831 and 1835, in 1842, and again in 1849, 
this church received large accessions to its numbers and 
strength. Multitudes thronged these seats during those 
seasons of religious impression, and the consequent changes 
in character and conduct attest the genuineness of the work. 
The ways of the Spirit are by no means uniform, but, when- 
ever He visits our congregations, the word becomes quick 
and powerful, a revealer of the thoughts and intents of the 
heart. Then sinners are convinced of sin and acknowledge 
their errors : then they sec the attractions of the cross, and 
give themselves to the service of Christ, the great Redeemer. 
In the experience of this renewing, sanctifying power of the 
truth, men attest the superiority of the gospel to all other 



40 

instrumentalities for reforming the guilty, and delivering 
the enslaved from the bondage of sin. Hence, the causes of 
temperance, of missions, and of moral reformations find 
their strength in the sanctuary. Here are witnessed revivals 
of the spirit of missions, renewed consecrations to the work 
of temperance and benevolence. As an illustration of this 
last experience, let me quote what is recorded of such a 
revival at the meeting of the General Association in this 
house in 1832 : " On Wednesday, at the anniversary of the 
New Hampshire Bible Society, so enlarged were the hearts 
of the people of God, that a contribution was taken up of 
$205.85, and a subscription made amounting to $819.50, 
besides two gold necklaces Avorth $20. But on Thursday, 
at the close of the missionary sermon by Rev. Edward L. 
Parker, of Derry, a missionary spirit broke out and pervaded 
the great congregation, and such a scene was opened as 
never before was witnessed in New Hampshire." It was 
resolved to raise the ensuing year |G,000 for the New Hamp- 
shire Missionary Society, a large portion of which was 
pledged on the spot. About one hundred and twenty 
entered their names as life members. The collection, 
including money and jewelry, was liberal beyond the expec- 
tation of the largest hearts. Old Testament times seemed 
to have returned, when " they came, both men and women, 
as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and 
ear-rings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold : and 
every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the 
Lord."* 

With such testimonies of the Divine influence, opening the 
heart and transforming the will, might be connected the re- 
lation of personal experiences by which the lives of many 
have been lifted to a superior plane, and the world made bet- 
ter by their example. Very gladly would I follow the history 
and recount the deeds of some of the early members of this 
church. I should be glad to unfold the part they took in the 

* Dr. Bouton's Historical Discourse at Boscawen, 1859, p. 45. 



41 

councils of the town, and the self-denial they exhibited in 
planting and sustaining the institutions by which we liave so 
largely profited. In the study of their principles and con- 
duct, Ave might learn the sources of that far-seeing wisdom 
and that persistent courage which wrested victories out of 
defeat, and enabled them, in tlie conflict of opinions, to adopt 
that line of practical administration Avhich grants liberty 
without licentiousness, and maintains law without oppression. 
Among the acts, resolves, and other papers submitted to the 
town and determining its action in the forming period of our 
history, from 1763 to 1789, there are many sentiments which 
command our admiration for their just expression of moral 
and political truth. After a survey of the lives of tlie men 
who occupied leading positions in the church and commu- 
nity, — whose sepulchres are witli us unto this day, — it would 
not be less profitable to follow the steps and trace the influ- 
ence of many who have gone forth fi-om this churcli to find 
employment elsewhere. I would gladly repeat the record of 
some who have finished their course, having kept the faith. 
I can think of one, and another, and another, of godly men 
and saintly women, wlio, having witnessed a good confession 
in larger spheres, have chosen to rest at last in our village 
cemetery. Their memory is blessed. I have in mind others, 
yet active, who are pillars of beauty and strength in the towns 
and cities of their adoption, who remember with liveliest 
gratitude the old meeting-liouse, where in early cliildhood 
they were taught the sure principles of the word of God, and 
where, in opening manhood, they entered into covenant with 
Christ and liis people. Other witnesses there are, daughters 
like unto corner stones, polished after the similitude of a 
palace; — but I will not multiply testimonies to prove that 
the Lord lias been with us as he was with the fathers, and 
that the old meeting-house is not past useful service. 

"Peace be within tiiis sacred place, 
And joy a constant guest ! 
With holy gifts and heavenly grace 
Be her attendants blest!" 



42 

Among the thoughts suggested by this hurried survey of 
the past and its customs, the habits, usages, and places of 
worsliip, the men and women into whose labors we have 
entered, I mark the unity, the identity of human interests, 
in all this diversity. How like us in hopes and fears, in anx- 
ieties, affections, and joys, the departed generations ! How 
akin in sorrows, sickness, bereavements, and deatli ! We 
smile ]ierhaps at their errors, pronounce upon their faults, 
and think that we are better than they. We read of their 
hardships, their patient endurance, their courageous indus- 
try, their reverence for God, their pious observance of the 
Sabbath, with a conviction that they were better than we. 
So the balance of our judgment vibrates; — but how like us, 
in their deepest wants, their aspirations, their hearts' desires! 
and how clear that the only abiding satisfaction, for us as 
for them, is in the faithful discharge of duty, the exercise of 
right affections, and the sustaining power of a hope in the 
Divine mercy ! There is no better lesson accompanying 
their histoi'y than this testimony, that our sufficiency is not 
of ourselves. Our obligations to the fathers are great. For 
us they cleared the forests, made highways, reared the 
churches, wrought out problems in civil and religious polity. 
We live in better houses, have more freedom, more wealth, 
more culture and privileges, because of their labors ; but in 
all that experience, so varied and instructive, comes the re- 
peated admonition, — "Man shall not live by bread alone !" 

Again : as we go over the history, it occurs to us that all 
these persons, whatever their occupations or characters, are 
gone ! They have died. Not the chief actors only, — the 
preachers and singers, the magistrates and . deacons, the 
land-owners, the lawyers and eloquent orators,^ — but all, the 
mothers, the maidens, the Monson folks, the federalists, the 
republicans, the few colored people — all that busy, plotting, 
striving multitude, those who did and those who did not go 
to meeting, are dead ! And of all that thought, labor, desire, 
enjoyment, what abides ? " The fathers, where are they ? and 



43 

• 
the prophets, do they live forever ? " Before another period like 
this which we review is passed, all of this audience will have 
•joined the mighty congregation of the dead. These dwellers 
on the western heights, these children from abroad, these 
citizens from adjoining towns, these familiar faces of neigh- 
bors and companions who greet us on the street, will be 
gone ! Some will try to keep alive our names. Some, 
possibly, may be curious to learn what part we acted, to what 
end we lived. Whatever the judgment posterity may pro- 
nounce on us, let us not forget the final trial that is to 
search every man's work of what sort it is. 

To this end, let us pray, — " The Lord our God be with us 
as he was with our fathers," enabling us to avoid their 
errors, to imitate their excellence, and make sure of His 
salvation. 



HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



BY REV. ALBERT HEALD, PASTOR. 



On the second day of tlie present month (January, 1S74), 
the Baptist church had been constituted forty-four and a half 
yeai's. Prior to its formation there were a number of persons, 
living in various parts of the town, who held the distinctive 
sentiments of the Baptists ; but these resided chiefly on Chest- 
nut hill and in that vicinity. Many of these held tbeir rela- 
tions with ditferent churches in neighboring towns ; others had 
not connected themselves with any religious body. 

The first organization for the purpose of securing preaching 
was formed October 6, 1S28, with the following declaration of 
purpose: "Being deeply sensible of the importance of the 
preached as well as the written word, to ourselves and families ; 
the privations that we, who live in this vicinity, have to under- 
go, by being located so far from the ministrations ; and believing 



44 



that it is our duty to contribute to the support of a preached 
gospel, and that united exertions are both desirable and bene- 
ficial, — we feel it our duty and privilege to procure as many 
persons in this region as are willing to sign this paper for the 
purpose of forming a religious society, denominated the First 
Baptist Society, in Amherst, N. H." 

To this the following names were subscribed at its foimation, 
to Avhich many others were afterwai-ds added : 

Ealpii Holbrook, James Prince, 

Ebenezer Holbrook, Robert Fletcher, 

Oliver Mears, Otis Fletcher, 

Franklin Mears, Benjamin Damon, 

Henry Tewksbtjrt, John Washer, 

Joseph Harvill, Benjamin R. Shepherd, 

John Rollins, Joseph Harriden. 

A constitution was prepared and adopted, in which two very 
important principles are announced as the fundamental ground 
of their action : 

"1. That morality and piety, governed on evangelical princi- 
ples, give the best and greatest happiness in society. 

"2. That the public worship of the Deity is the best way of 
promoting this morality and piety." 

The church was organized on July 2, 1829. Letters were 
sent to the churches in Londonderry, Milford, New Boston, 
Weare, and Goffstown. 

The following ministers were present : Rev. Samuel Abbott 
and Rev. Isaac Durrah, Londonderry; Rev. Samuel Everet, 
Milford; Rev. John Atwood, New Boston; and Rev. Simon 
Fletcher, Goffsto\\»n. 

The council consisted of twelve members. Rev. Samuel Ab- 
bott was chosen moderator, and Rev. S. Fletcher, clerk. 

There is no record of the original members of the church. A 
few may be still living, but they have long since removed their 
relation to other churches, or gone to their rest and reward. 

They held their meetings at first on Chestnut hill, and con- 
tinued them there until 1837. 

In 1835, on February 3, a protracted meeting was com- 



45 

menced, conducted by Rev. Jolin Peacock, and continued six- 
teen days. This was the commencement of one of the most 
extensive revivals ever enjoyed in this community. The first 
sermon was preached, by the leader of the meeting, from John 
11 : 5(5, — " What think yc, that he will not come up to the feast?" 
He did come in wonderful power, so that, literally, there was not 
room enough to receive the blessing. Multitudes came from all 
the surrounding sections, were filled, and carried away the 
sweet influence of the S|)irit's presence. Tlie work spread to 
the north, east, south, and west. The school-house where they 
held their meetings became altogether too strait for them. The 
windows were removed from the north end of the house, and 
large numbers were accommodated on the ground or ledge that 
rose gradually from the north side of the building. That they 
could have been comfortable at this season was remarkable. He 
who moved in the meeting, melting hard liearts, ordered the 
weather so that it met their circumstances. Another method 
was also adopted to meet the emergency : the congregation was 
divided. In the morning, dunng a part of the time, the uncon- 
verted assembled at the school-house, while Christians met at 
the house of Dea. J. Harvill, — the former to listen to a sermon, 
and the latter to hold a season of prayer. In the afternoon the 
order Avas reversed. Christians met at the school-house, and 
anxious inquirers at the private dwelling. Tliere are many 
now living who remember these scenes very distinctly, and are 
cheered as they recount what God did for them. 

Rev. J. Peacock, who was a native of Amherst, and led these 
meetings, after nearly forty years of hard service, with glorious 
results, as an evangelist, has returned to his native town, ex- 
pecting to make it his home the remainder of his days, and rest 
at last with his kindred. lie was greatly assisted in these meet- 
ings by Rev. Silas Aiken, then pastor of the Congregationalist 
church, and Rev. Thomas Savage, of Bedford. The church, 
which has for one hundred years worshipped in this house, re- 
ceived the largest accessions to its numbers during this year of 
any for the century just now closed. There were many scores 
that found Christ, either directly or indirectly, from the interest 
connected with this protracted effort. 

On these hills was this church first constituted: and it maybe 



46 

risked why tliey did not remain there. Paradoxical as it may 
seem, it was because God had so abundantly blessed them. 
This church was not very much strengthened, and this was ow- 
ing mainly to their location. As one result of the revival, they 
dismissed a part of their number to form a church at Bedford. 
Like the fiimily in an out-of-the-way place on the hills, their 
sijiritual children did not remain at home. Yet for a time they 
clung to the hill, for there were many precious associations clus- 
tering around it. They loved the place, for here had God glo- 
riously manifested the power of his grace and triith. 

A committee was appointed to procure a lot upon which to 
build a meeting-liouse. The place was selected and staked out; 
but this was the extent of the movement in this direction. 
These Christians had before gone long distances to meeting; and 
they could again make a sacrifice for the cause. Some of them 
had made a journey very regularly to Milford, of eighteen miles 
out and back, to attend meeting on the Sabbath. It must be 
conceded that something more than mere captiousness, or ca- 
price, or prejudice prompted them, especially when they wei'e 
obliged to pass this house, where such men as Rev. Nathan Lord 
and Rev. Silas Aiken jjreached the gospel with so much ear- 
nestness and power. 

Li 1837 they moved their meeting to the village. To many 
of them it was a great sacrifice. For a time they had no cer- 
tain abiding-place. Sometimes they worshipped in the school- 
liouse, sometimes in a hall over a store situated on the common 
near where the monument now stands, and eometinies in the 
court-house. Nov. 19th, 1841, the record reads, — " Being de- 
prived of the use of the court-house, we made arrangement 
to worship in the Unitarian house." This they continued to do 
for a part of the time for three years, when the house was con- 
veyed by the Christian society to the First Baptist society in 
Amherst, by deed dated April 7, 1844. 

A condition in the subscription to the shares for the building 
of this house was, that the Christian society should transfer the 
house to any other religious society when they should hold two 
thirds of the pews in the same. This condition being secured 
to the Baptist society by purchase and transfer, at an expense 
of between $1,000 and $1,100, it was accordingly deeded to 



47 

tliem by said Christian society, and it has for the hist thirty 

years been their place of worship. In 1851 the liouse was 

repaired at an expense of $300, and again, in 1870, at an ex- 
pense of $500. 

Bequests. The first bequest was made by Fanny G. Flinn, 
May 8th, 1838, of $90, to be expended in annual instahnents of 
$5 eacli. The second was made by James Prince, of tlie income 
of $200 for ten years. The third was left by Joseph Harvill, 
of $200. The fourth, of $1,000, by Mrs. Lucy Coggin, to pur- 
chase a parsonage, was offered on condition that tlie cliurch and 
society would raise $500 to repair the meeting-house ; — which 
was done. Mr. Luther Coggin gave the lumber to build a 
stable. Miss S.L. Lawrence left by will $250 to jjurchase a bell. 
This now amounts to about $300. Besides these, there have 
been gifts of a Bible and hymn-book for the desk, a cal)inet organ 
for the choir, chairs for the altar, and a beautiful communion set, 
by Mrs. Mary Twiss and her children. 

Pastors. The church was supplied by different individuals, 
for a short period each, for the first twelve years: 

Rev. ]\[AS02«r Ball — Settled Aug. 1, 1841; closed his laborg 
Feb. 18, 1844. 

Rev. Aarox Hates — Settled March 17, 1844; closed his 
labors March 30, 1845. 

Rev. Amasa Brown — Settled May 2, 1845 ; closed his labors 
April 7, 1847. 

Rev. David Bukroughs — Settled Aug. 1, 1849; closed las la- 
bors Dec, 1854. 

Rev. Samuel Jones — Settled M.ay 11, 1856; closed his labors 
May 10, 1857. 

The pulpit was supplied, during the winter of 1857-58, by 
Rev. JoHK H. Thyng. During the winter of 1858-59 Rev. 
Samuel Cook supplied the church. 

Rev. Amos W. Boardman — Settled July 31, 1859; closed his 
labors July 14, 18G1. 

Rev. J. Baskwell — Settled Dec. 4, 18C3; closed liis labors 
Dec. 31, 1865." 

Rev. John" Peacock supplied the church from Feb. 1, 1866, 
for nearly two years. 



48 

Rev. Eli P. Notes — Settled April 1, 1868 ; closed his labors 
Nov. 1, 1870. 

Rev. Albert Heald — Settled Jan. 1, 1870, whose pastorate 
still coMtinues. 

Deacons. The church has been served by nine deacons : 

1. Benj. Damon, 5. Edward M. Holt, 

2. Joseph Harvill, 6. Joseph Russell, 

3. William Goodnow, 7. Samuel Fletcher, 

4. Simeon Wilson, 8. Josiah M. Parker, 

9. Daniel Cram. 

Statistics. About three liundred have united with the 
church. It is impossible to decide correctly from the records. 
All the original names are wanting. One hundred and ten have 
been baptized ; one hundred and forty added by letter, and ten 
by experience. Some have been added when no record has 
been made ; and some evidently dismissed in the same manner. 

Incidents. The first communion occurred on August 16, 
1829; the first baptism, November 7, of the same year. The 
first case of discipline was commenced January 15, 1832. The 
case was continued, and April 14th it voted to give Sister N. 
seven months to become reconciled ; quite a probation, but not 
a hundredth part as long as God grants to many a poor sinner to 
become reconciled to him. On July 6, 1833, this probation 
closed without a reconciliation, — the seven months having been 
lengthened to fifteen. 

The first death occurred March 27, 1846, sixteen years and 
eight months after the organization ; the last death, December 
27, 1873, of brother Willie P. Upton, who united about eigh- 
teen months before. He was an active, growing Christian, and 
a young man of much promise. May all the members be as 
well prei)ared and as willing to go, when their Lord shall call 
for them, as was this young brother. 



A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH 

OF THE 

CHURCH IN MONT VERNON, 

PRESENTED BY THE ACTING PASTOR, 

REV. S. H. KEELER, D. D., 

At the Centennial of the Erection of the Congregational 
Meeting-house, in Amherst, January i8, 1874. 



The daughter of ninety-three, residing at Mont Vernon, hav- 
ing been invited by her venerable mother, aged one hundred 
and thirty-three, to hold a united service with her, January 18, 
1874, in observance of the centennial of the erection of her 
sanctuary, in which they formerly worshipped together, cheer- 
fully complied with the request, gave up her public worship at 
home, and, Avith her i-)astor, passed the Sabbath with the parent 
church. 

Having in the morning listened with great interest to the his- 
torical sermon by Rev. Dr. Davis, and having been requested 
to occupy a part of the afternoon in reminiscences of the church 
in Mont Vernon, the pastor jDresented the following brief his- 
torical sketch. Having also been requested to furnish a copy 
of the same, that it might be published with the sermon of Dr. 
Davis and other services of the day, the following pages, with 
some additions, are hereby offered for the above purpose : 

The church in Mont Vernon Avas organized as the second 
church in Amherst, September, 1780, by a council called for 
that purpose. Who composed the council I have not been able 
to ascertain, as no records of these transactions ai*e to be found, 
nor of the church itself, for some thirteen years, nor have I been 
able to learn the number that composed the church at its forma- 
tion. There is traditional proof, however, that the original 
4 



50 

members were quite remarkable for their sound, intelligent 
orthodoxy, and the quiet yet decided earnestness of their piety. 
I have been informed, also, that, soon after the organization of 
the church, the Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Chelmsford, Mass., preached 
to a large congregation in Major Cole's barn, on the importance 
of erecting, without delay, a house of worship; an undertaking 
of no small difficulty, amid the pecuniary stress of those revo- 
lutionary days. The sermon, however, was decidedly eifective. 
On the following April, each farmer in the settlement not only 
contributed freely his quota of timber, which, according to the 
fashion of those times, was timber icith a icitness, both in dimen- 
sio7is and loeight, biTt they drew it quite the last of the month, 
on a depth of ice-crusted snow, above which neither fence nor 
wall was visible. Fifty-four persons were legally constituted 
the Second Parish in Amherst, in June, 1781. 

They are spoken of as a band of resolute, noble, and pious 
men, whose orthodoxy was unquestionable, and who felt that 
they were laying the foundation for future generations. A lot 
of land having been given to the parish by Lieut. James Wood- 
bur}', the house was erected with as little delay as possible, and 
gradually finished, as the people were able. There is no record 
of its formal dedication. During the first winter, so urgent was 
the demand for the church, that, though but partially fitted up 
for the purpose, and entirely destitute of any warming appara- 
tus, yet the house was well filled with worshippers, some of 
whom walked even from Chestnut hills, five miles distant. 
Among these were not only strong men, but noble and resolute 
women. 

The new church and parish, although supplied with preaching 
by several candidates for the pastorate, were destitute of a set- 
tled minister till Nov. 3, 1785, when Rev. John Bruce became 
their first pastor. He was a native of Marlboro', Mass., born 
Aug. 31, 1757 ; a graduate of Dartmouth college at the age of 
twenty-four, where, by his studious habits, his mild, serious, and 
dutiful character, he won from his teachers the title of "good 
Mr. Bruce." After a pastorate of some twenty-five years, — the 
longest of any of his successors, — he suddenly died of apoplexy, 
aged fifty-one, on the Sabbath morning of March 12, 1809, with 
his armor on. While his people had assembled and were wait- 



51 

ing for their pastor, a messenger announced the sad intelligence 
of Ills death, — an event sorrowful to them, but joyful to him. 
His ministry was eminently successful. The whole number 
added to the church during his pastorate cannot be definitely 
stated, as for several years its records are not to be found. A 
memorandum, however, in the hand-writing of Mr. Bruce, has 
been found, containing evidently a list of church members prior 
to 1799, making the membership up to that time, by letter and 
by profession, one hundred and ten. The year 1799 was ren- 
dered memorable not only by the first religious revival enjoyed 
by this church, but as the first ever known in this region. The 
blessed result of it to this church was the addition of fifty mem- 
bers by profession, making the whole number added during Mr. 
Bruce's ministry one hundred and sixty. The happy influence of 
this revival was not limited to this church, but extended far and 
wide among neighboring churches. Many years afterwards. 
Rev. Mr. Bradford, of Francestown, said that, when informed 
of the numbers converted to Christ in Mont Vernon, he was so 
much affected that he shut himself up for the day, and wept 
and prayed. This revival was not only the harbinger, but the 
glorious beginning, of no less than six or seven seasons of spe- 
cial religious interest with which the church has been favored 
since that period. 

The next pastor of this church was Rev. Stephen Chapin, a 
graduate of Harvard, and a pupil of Dr. Emmons. He was in- 
stalled November, 1809, and, after an efficient pastorate of nine 
years, was dismissed November 18, 1818. During his ministry, 
one hundred and fifteen were added to the church. As the 
result of a revival in 1817, fifty-one professed Christ on one 
occasion. The cause of his dismission was a change of vicAvs in 
regard to the mode and subjects of baptism. He afterwards 
received the honorary title of d. d., and died Avhile president of 
Columbia college, Washington, D. C, October 1, 1846, aged 67. 
The next pastor of the church was Rev. Ebenezer Cheever, a grad- 
uate of Bowdoin college. He was ordained December 18,1819, 
and, after a pastorate of between three and four years, was dis- 
missed April 8, 1823. Twenty-two members w^ere added to the 
church during his ministry. During the same period, in 1820, 
thejirst /Sabbath-school of the church and society was organized. 



52 

It was composed of children only. During his ministry, thirty- 
nine cliilclren were consecrated to God by baptism. 

Mr. Cheever was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Kingsbury, 
who was ordained November 8, 1823, and, after a ministry of 
between twelve and thirteen years, was dismissed, on account 
of ill health, April 6, 1836. His pastorate was one of the most 
prosperous and successful of those enjoyed by the church. It 
was blessed by two revivals of great power and thrilling inter- 
est, — one in 1828, resvdting in an addition of thirty-four to the 
church, the other in 1831, — that period of protracted meetings 
and of remarkable revival scenes, the result of which was an 
addition to the church of some sixty by profession. Prayer- 
meetings, held at sunrise, were sustained for months, and con- 
verts went forth into remote districts to aid in social meetings, 
even during the busiest seasons of the year. And yet, so did 
God favor liis people with health, with sunshine and showers, 
that tlieir temporal prosperity, even, was never greater. The 
whole number of members received to the church by letter and 
profession, during the ministry of Mr. Kingsbury, was one hun- 
dred and fifty-four. This period was distinguished also as the 
beginning of the temperance reform in Mont Vernon. The 
difficulties which had to be met at that day can hardly be im- 
agined now. Then public opinion was so opposed to it, that 
even church members would indignantly leave the sanctuary if 
the subject was alluded to in the pulpit. And it is said that, as 
Mr. Kingsbury was passing in the dy-ection of the new road 
that was being made between Mont Vernon and Milford, he 
overtook one of his deacons, with two pails of liquor, who ad- 
vised his minister to go the old road, as the workmen were so 
intoxicated on the new one that he would be insulted. Through 
the persevering efforts of pastor and people, liowever, the tide 
of intemperance was rolled back, if not entirely stayed, and 
temperance took its appropriate place in the church from that 
day. In 1837 the sanctuary was removed to its present loca- 
tion, remodelled, and furnished with a bell and organ ; it was 
also sujjplied with furnaces, and otherwise rendered commodious 
and comfortable. 

The next settled pastor was Rev. Edwin Jennison, a graduate 
from the Theological Seminary at Andover. He was installed 



53 

April 6, 1836, and, after a ministry of a little more than five 
years, was dismissed on account <>f ill health, Aug. 19, 1841. 
He was regarded as a superior sermonizer, but seldom visited 
his ])eople. Twenty-three were added to the church during his 
ministry. His health continuing to fail, he visited Europe, and 
was afterwards settled at Ashburnham, Mass. Rev. Mr. Jenni- 
son was succeeded by Rev. B. Smith, a graduate of Dartmouth. 
He was installed April 19, 1841, and, after a ministry of some 
nine years, was dismissed April 30, 1850. During his pastorate, 
thirty-two were added to the church. Several important cases 
of discipline were settled ; and strong ground was taken by the 
church against slavery and slaveholders. 

His ministry was succeeded by that of Rev. Charles D. Her- 
bert, who was installed Nov. ■ 6, 1850. After a j)astorate of 
between five and six years, he was dismissed July 21, 1856. 
During this period, fifty-five were added to the church. In 1852, 
quite a number in the academy became hopefully the disciples 
of Christ. The church then numbered one hundred and sixty- 
three, and the average age of the members was about fifty-six 
years. 

The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Herbert was followed by that of 
Rev. Charles E. Lord, a graduate of Dartmouth. He was in- 
stalled Feb., 1857. After the lapse of some four years, he was 
dismissed, on account of his wife's ill health, March, 1861. Dur- 
ing his ministry, thirteen were added to the church. In a letter 
of commendation, written to Mr. Lord by a committee of the 
church chosen for the purpose, after speaking of their regret at 
parting with him, and of the growing attachment of the church 
and people to him, the committee bear the following testimony 
to his ministrations: "They have been highly acceptable, and 
his preaching clear and instructive ; and no difficulties have oc- 
curred to mar the enjoyment of the retrospect." 

The ministry of Mr. Lord was followed by that of Rev. Geo. 
E. Sanborn, a graduate of Amherst college, Mass. He was 
installed April 2, 1862, and, after a pastorate of three years, 
was dismissed May 29, 1865, to accept a call from Northboro', 
Mass. Nine were received to the church during his ministrj'. 
The church records bear the following testimony of the regard 
of the church for Mr. Sanborn while their pastor: '■'■Jiesolved, 



54 

That this church highly appreciate his ministerial and pastoral 
labors, and greatly regret that the ties which have bound him 
and them together should be so soon sundered; and they con- 
sent to it only at the call of duty." 

As successor to Mr. Sanborn, the Rev. B. M. Frink was in- 
stalled over this church and people Nov. 1, 1865, and was dis- 
missed to accept a call from the Central churcli, Portland, Me., 
Oct. 23, 1867. During his pastorate of some two years, forty- 
seven were added to the church. A majority of these were 
received as the fruits of a revival of religion which occurred 
during the winter and spring of 1866, — a period of great and 
general interest, the results of which were precious. The min- 
istry of Mr. Frink was eminently active, acceptable, and labo- 
rious. Added to the good results already noticed, it should be 
mentioned that the pulpit was appropriately remodelled and 
rendered more convenient and attractive, and the present com- 
modious and much needed parsonage was erected. Both these 
improvements were largely owing to his personal and persever- 
ing efforts, aided by the liberal offerings of the church and 
people. 

The present acting pastor of the church and people was a 
graduate of Middlebury college, Vt., and, also, of the Theologi- 
cal Seminary, Andover, Mass. He commenced his stated min- 
istry in Mont Vernon April 1, 1868, having supplied the pulpit 
for several Sabbaths the previous winter. He declined the re- 
quest of the church and people for his installation, because, 
when he began his labors among them, he thought his ministry 
might be so brief that it might not be best either for him or 
them. Had he supposed that his pastorate would be as pro- 
tracted and pleasant as it has been, he w^ould not only have 
yielded to the request of the church and people for installation, 
but acted upon his own conviction, as a general principle, that 
a regularly settled pastor is always preferable, other things be- 
ing equal, to the comparatively unsettled relation of an acting 
pastor. For nearly six years the present ministry has been one 
of great harmony and pleasure, and attended with most unex- 
pected success, on the part of the incumbent. Seconded by the 
willing cooperation of the church and people, a debt owed by 
the latter, of some six hundred dollars, has been cancelled, the 



55 

parsonage has been improved, the sanctuary has been rendered 
more comuiodious and attractive, the organ has been replaced 
by one better suited to the service of sacred song ; and the Large 
expense of these and other improvements has been cheerfully 
met. It should be mentioned, also, that in so doing the church 
and parish have been essentially aided by the Female Home Cir- 
cle, who, in various ways, have raised some fourteen hundi'ed 
dollars. During the present pastorate, some eighty have been 
added to the church, making an aggregate of some fifteen per 
year. Of this number, fifty-three have been added during the 
year 1873. Most of these are the precious fruit of the revival 
of religion which occurred in connection with a series of re- 
ligious meetings held with the church and people the last of 
April, the pastor being aided by Rev. Mr. Potter, the evan- 
gelist. The religious interest thus begun continued through 
the summer and autumn, and, though lessened in degree, still 
continues. 

One of the most interesting and even remarkable results of 
this revival is, that the large majority of those who have ex- 
pressed hope in Christ, and united with the church, are in the 
meridian of life, men of influence, and eight or ten husbands 
and their wives ; there were also several youth, and one man 
past four score years. By these additions the things tliat re- 
mained have been strengthened, and the prosperity and perpe- 
tuity of the church, which had been seriously endangered by 
deaths and removals, have been promoted. The whole number 
who have united with the church since its formation in 1780 is 
not far from eight hundred. And, notwithstanding the changes 
by which it has been diminished since then, its present num- 
ber is not far from one hundred and seventy, resident and non- 
resident. The church has sent forth eight tninisters, — two at a 
very early day, viz., Joshua Howard and Daniel Weston ; more 
recently, Solomon Kittredge, Charles B. Kittredge, J. W. Per- 
kins, Darwin Adams, H. A. Kendall, and J. C. Bryant. It has 
also supplied the churches in the cities and large towns with 
some of their most efiicient members. It is estimated that some 
fifty young men belonging to Mont Vernon have been prepared for 
usefulness, and gone forth to exert it elsewhere, within the last 
fifteen years, and perhaps as many young women ; and, although 



56 

it is gratifying to know that they are benefiting other commu- 
nities and other churches, it has been evidently at the expense 
of this church and people ; and the more favored churches and 
parishes are verily their debtors. And the same is true, doubt- 
less, with reference to very many of our rural places in the 
State. 

Such is a brief and imperfect review of the church and parish 
of Mont Vernon, from 1780 to 1874, a period of nearly ninety-four 
years. The compiler has gathered the facts and events with 
which it is fraught from the most reliable sources witliin his 
reach, — partly from the history of the churches of New Hamp- 
shire, and partly from the church records of more recent date. 
It is obviously suggestive of interesting and instructive lessons, 
honorable to God, and pertinent to the present generation. It 
obviously teaches the hopeful and encouraging fact, that though 
pastors may pass away, and many who once composed the 
church may not continue, by reason of death and other remov- 
als, yet the church itself lives, and will be immortal till its mis- 
sion is fulfilled. What a lesson of gratitude does the contrast 
between the privations of the fiithers and mothers of the past, 
and the privileges of to-day, read to the present generation ! 
and how does it enhance their obligation ! How manifest, more- 
over, the faithfulness of God to his gracious promise, — " Them 
that honor me I will honor." 



REMINISCENCES 



FORMER CITIZENS AND NATIVES OF AMHERST, 



BY DANIEL F. SECOMB, CONCORD, N. H. 



One hundred years ago our fathers met to dedicate the house 
their hands had built to the worship of the Builder of the Uni- 
verse. To-day, but one person then living is numbered among 
the living inhabitants of our town. Scattered far and near, the 
ashes of the congregation then assembled rest in peace. Their 



57 

work is done. Wliat remains of it is with us. We may profit 
by tlieir labors, and imitate their virtues. 

Tlie long contest for the possession of the North American 
continent, between France and her savage allies on one hand, 
and Great Britain and her colonies on the other, had been closed 
a few years before by the capture of Quebec, and the subse- 
quent cession of the French colonies to the English, wlien the 
English government, finding itself heavily in debt, projiosed to 
increase its revenue by taxing its thriving colonies. Before con- 
ceding this claim, the colonists asked for a representation in 
parliament, contending that taxation and representation should 
go together. This being denied, a conflict between the parties 
became inevitable. The sturdy backwoodsmen, descendants of 
English Puritans and Scotch Presbyterians, who had fought and 
conquered savages and wild beasts, met in deadly combat the 
trained soldiers of the mother land. 

With all its serious aspects, the contest had in it a good deal of 
a grim sort of humor. When the tea was forced upon the Bos- 
tonians, it was received under protest; but a teapot of gener- 
ous dimensions was soon found by his Majesty's loyal subjects 
to steep it in, the finny inhabitants of Boston harbor being 
afforded an opportunity to participate in the drinking. And 
when the demand was made upon the colonists to deliver up 
their arms, the Spartan answer — "Come and take them" — was 
soon understood to include what might be found with them. 
Our fathers entered into the discussions of those stormy times 
with sjnrit. One month before the dedication of the house, 
the tea-party had been given at Boston ; and fifteen months 
later came the opening conflicts of the war at Lexington com- 
mon and Concord bridge. 

In May, 1775, says Mr. Fox, in the history of Dunstable, the 
county of Hillsborough, with a population of fifteen thousand 
nine hundred and forty-eight, had six hundred and fifty men in 
the army, or a little more than one to every twenty-five of its 
inhabitants; and its shire town was certainly not behind its 
neighbors in jiatriotism. 

In April, 1776, two hundred and one of its male citizens 
above twenty-one years of age signed a paper, now on file in the 
office of the secretary of state, pledging themselves, "to the 



58 

utmost of their powei-, at the risk of their lives and fortunes, 
with arras, to ojopose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets 
and armies against the united American colonies." 

Standing first on the list of signers to this bold defiance of 
British power we find the name of Nahum Baldwin, the village 
blacksmith, representative to the general court in 1775 and 1780, 
moderator of the annual town-meeting, town clerk, and select- 
man in 1778, and for fourteen years a deacon of the church. He 
was appointed colonel of a regiment, raised in 1776, to reinforce 
the army in northern New York. This regiment was dismissed 
at North Castle near the close of the year. Tliis seems to have 
been the only military commission held by him. He died May 
7, 1788, at the age of fifty-three years. Some of his descend- 
ants now reside in Antrim, N. H. 

Second on the list we find the name of Moses Nichols, a 
physician of good repute, a native of Reading, Mass., who came 
to Amherst early in life, and commenced the practice of his 
profession. In 1765, 1768, and 1773 he served as one of the 
selectmen, was town clerk in 1773, moderator in 1767, 1769, 
1770, 1771, 1773, and 1777, and representative in 1775, 1776, 
and 1781. He was also register of deeds for Hillsborougli county 
fi'om 1776 until his death. He was appointed colonel of the 
fifth regiment of militia December 5, 1776, in place of Col. 
Lutwyche, who had joined the British ; commanded the right 
wing of Stark's army in the battle with the Hessians and tories, 
near Bennington, August 16, 1777 ; was colonel of a regiment 
in General Whipple's brigade, at Rhode Island, in 1778 ; and, 
after the close of the war, was appointed brigadier general of 
the fourth brigade N. H. militia. He died May 23, 1790, aged 
49 years. 

Stephen Peabody, another signer of the test paper, was an 
active whig. He was son of William Peabody, who came from 
Boxford, Mass., to Souhegan West, as early as 1742. He served 
as one of the selectmen in 1770, 1772, 1773, 1776, and 1779, and 
was representative in 1779. He was adjutant of Col. Reed's 
regiment in 1775; major of a regiment, raised for the defence 
of Portsmouth and its harbor, in 1776; captain of a company, 
raised for the relief of-Ticonderoga, in 1777; aid to Gen. Stark 
at Bennington ; and lieut. colonel, commanding a regiment in 



69 

Gen. Whipple's brigade, in 1778. He closed his career Septem- 
ber 19, 1782, at the age of thirty-seven. His remains rest in 
the cemetery at Mont Vernon. 

Prior to the first of April, 1777, one hundred and twenty of 
the citizens of Amherst had been engaged in the war ; in this 
number were two colonels, one major, and five captains. Twenty 
of its soldiers lost their lives in tlie course of the war. 

In the census of 1840 the following soldiers of the revolution 
were returned as living in Amherst, Mont Vernon, and Milford : 

IN" AMHERST. IN MONT VERNON. 

John Purple, aged 97 Andrew Leavitt, 
Tliomas Melendy, " 91 Solomon Kittredge, 
Joseph Crosby, " 87 Jonathan Lamson, 
Nathan Kendall, " 85 Zeplianiah Kittredge, 
David Fit-k, " 83 Israel Farnum, 

Benjamin Damon, " 78 Daniel Averill, 
Ephraim Goss, " 74 in milford. 

Samuel Lovejoy, 

Isaac Burpee, 

Joshua Atherton, one of the four citizens who refused to sign 
the test paper, was, so far as I am able to learn, the only per- 
son who was subjected to any open persecution on account of 
his opinions. He Avas confined for a short time in the jail at 
Exeter, and, with his family, suffered other indignities. He 
submitted patiently, accepting the consequences of adhering 
to his convictions; and, at the close of the war, was soon rein- 
stated in the confidence of his fellow citizens. He represented 
the town in the convention which ratified the federal constitu- 
tion in 1788, and made a speech (almost the only one made on 
that occasion, which has been preserved) against its adoption. 
He was afterwards representative, senator, and attorney-gen- 
eral. He died April 3, 1809, aged 71 years. 

The declaration of independence was proclaimed "by the 
beat of drum," by Moses Kelley, sheriff of the county, from the 
horse-block, in front of the meeting-house, July 18, 1776. An 
event now transpiring at Philadelphia may be known to us in 
five minutes afterwards, — such has been the progress made in the 
mode of transmitting intelligence within ninety-eight years. 



aged 87 


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60 

Samuel Dana was one of the worthy citizens of Amherst. 
The commencement of the revolutionary war found him settled 
in the ministry, at Groton, Mass., but being suspected of favor- 
ing the mother country, he was compelled to relinquish his 
charge, and for some time was without any settled employ- 
ment; but in 1783 he was admitted to the practice of the law. 
On the ninth of January, 1789, he was appointed judge of pro- 
bate for the county of Hillsborough, which office he held for 
some years. He died April 2, 1798, at the age of fifty-nine 
years. He was the first master of Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, 
Free and Accepted Masons, and was buried with masonic hon- 
ors, an oration being pronounced on the occasion by Timothy 
Bigelow, Esq., then a resident here. 

One who remembered Judge Dana well, said, — "He was one 
of the most useful men that ever lived in town — ever active 
and ready to devise and execute plans for the comfort and con- 
venience of its citizens." Some of his descendants have been 
men of note, and filled important offices in the state. Among 
them were Chief Justice Samuel Dana Bell, Senator James Bell, 
Dr. Luther V. Bell, and Samuel N. Bell, recently member of 
congress. 

John Shepard, Jr., was a native of Concord, Mass., and came 
here at an early age with his fiither, who built the mills known 
as the Shepard mills, on the Souhegan river. He served on the 
board of selectmen eleven years, and was also town clerk eleven 
years. His record, after the lapse of a century, is as legible as 
printed matter. He learned to write by making characters with 
his finger in the dust which settled on the boards in the grist- 
mill which he tended. For some years he was justice of the 
county court and justice of the peace.' He died at Milford, 
December 4, 1802, aged seventy. 

William Gordon, died May 8, 1802, at the age of thirty-nine 
years; graduated at Harvard college 1779; was a senator in the 
legislature, member of congress three years, and attorney-gen- 
eral. He built the house afterwards occupied by Hon. C. H. 
Atherton, whose sister he married. His son, William Gordon, 
graduated at Harvard college, 1806; practised law in Charles- 
town, N. H. ; and died in the Asylum for the Insane, at Brat- 
tleborough, Vt., January 12, 1871, aged 83 years. 



61 

Pvobert Means, born in Stewartstown, Ireland, August 28, 
1742, settled here prior to the revolution, and soon became 
one of the leading citizens of the town. By his industry and 
application to business he acquired a large property. He rep- 
resented the town in the legislature for three years, was for 
three years a member of the state Senate, and one year one of 
the governor's council. He died January 24, 1823. 

Benjamin Kendriclc, born in Newton, Mass., January 30, 
1724, settled on what is now the town farm, then in Monson, 
in 1749, and became a citizen of Amlieist on tlie annexation of 
a part of Monson to this place, Sejitembcr 13, 1770. He was 
town clerk of Monson some years, and selectman of Amlierst 
in 1771. His daughter Anna was the wife of Governor Benja- 
min Pierce, and the mother of General Franklin Pierce, at one 
time president of the United States. He died Nov. 13, 1812. 

Daniel Warner was a native of Ipswich, Mass. ; born June 
25, 1745. After residing some years in Nashua, then Dunstable, 
he settled in Amherst, of which he was a useful and influen- 
tial citizen. He was employed to take the census of Hillsbor- 
ough county in 1790, 1800, and 1810. Was lieutenant-colonel, 
commanding 5th regiment N. H. militia, 1796, moderator of 
the annual tow^i-meeting in 1798, and represented the town 
eight years in the general court. He died March 20, 1813. His 
widow survived until March, 1833. His son Daniel died while 
a member of Harvard college. John, another son, died while 
in service in the last war with Great Britain. 

Jedediah Kilburn Smith, a native of the town, son of Jona- 
than Smith, who came here from Danvers, Mass., represented 
the town in the general court in 1803 and 1804; was a member 
of the tenth congress, councillor for Hillsborough county four 
years, senator four years, justice of the court of common pleas, 
and post-master. He died December 17, 1828, aged 59. 

Clifton Clagett, son of Wyseman Chigett, attorney-general 
of the province of New Hampshire, was born at Portsmouth 
December 3, 1762, settled in the practice of the law at Litchfield 
in 1787, removed to Amherst in 1811, and died here January 
29, 1829. He was a member of the eighth, fifteenth, and six- 
teenth congresses, represented Amherst in the general court in 
1816, was justice of the superior court for a short time, and 
judge of probate for Hillsborough county. 



62 

Charles Humphrey Atherton, son of Joshua Atherton, was 
born August 14, 1773. For more than forty years he was register 
of probate for Hillsborough county, a member of the fourteenth 
congress, represented the town in the general court in 1823, 1838, 
and 1839, and was for fifty years one of the leading members 
of the Hillsborough county bar. He died January 8, 1853. 
His son, Charles Gordon Atherton, an able lawyer, was born July 
4, 1804 ; graduated at Plarvard college 1822; settled in the prac- 
tice of the law at Nashua; was speaker of the house of repre- 
sentatives three years, representative to congress four years, 
and senator six years. He died while senator, November 15, 
1853. 

Horace Greeley was probably the most widely known of the 
sons of Amherst. He was born of good " Scotch-Irish " stock, 
in the north-east part of the town, near Bedford line, February 
3, 1811. Possessing but few of the advantages enjoyed by youth 
at the present day, by his energy and perseverance he wrought 
his way up from poverty and obscurity to a commanding posi- 
tion among the journalists of the country and the world. The 
Tribune^ with 1,250,000 readers, was a power in the land, and 
its editor-in-chief well deserved the title given him by a distin- 
guished contemporary — " Our later Franklin." He died Novem- 
ber 29, 1872. 

Eiihraim Putnam Bradford, mentally and physically one of 
the greatest of the sons of old Amlierst, was son of Capt. John 
Bradford, a soldier of the revolution, who removed after the 
close of the war to Hancock, and died there at the age of ninety- 
three, June 27, 1836. The son was born in the north-east part of 
the present town of Milford, December 27, 1776; graduated at 
Harvard college in 1803, and was settled over the Presbyterian 
church at New Boston, February 26, 1806, where he remained 
until his death, December 14, 1845. With more ambition and 
industry he might have graced any city pulpit, or filled most 
acceptably the place so long held by Dr. Lord at Hanover. To 
him Clark B. Cochrane, in his centennial address at New Bos- 
ton, applied the words of the patriarch of Uz, — " Unto him 
men gave ear, and waited and kept silence at his counsel ; they 
waited for him as for the rain, and they opened their mouth 
wide as for the latter rain." Silas Aiken (good authority here) 



63 

once wrote of liim, — " He was, literally, one of nature's noble- 
men, of princely person, with a sonorous, commanding voice, 
exceedingly fluent and accurate in speech, modelled somewhat 
after Johnson's style, so richly gifted in mind and heart that, 
with little preparation, he stood among the first preachers in 
the state. 

Mary Manning Barker, daughter of Dea. Ephraim Barker, to 
whom he was married September 1, 1806, was a most worthy 
daughter of old Amherst, and a fit companion for such a man. 
She was born October 9, 1785, and is still living. 

Isaac Hill stands at the head of the graduates from the Cab- 
inet oflice. He was born in what is now Somerville, Mass., 
April 6, 1788 ; removed with his family to Ashburnham in 
1798; came to Amherst at the age of fourteen, making the 
journey from Ashburnham on horseback, seated behind his em- 
ployer. Here he remained seven years. On the 18th of April, 
1809, he issued the first number of the iVeio Hampshire Patriot^ 
at Concord.* This paper he conducted with much ability for 
twent}'' years, during a large part of which time it was the ac- 
knowledged leader of the republican journals in the state. 
Towards the close of his life, in connection with his sons, he 
published Jlills' N'em Hampshire Patriot, and the Farmers' 
Monthly Visitor, a paper devoted to the interests of the farm- 
ers of New Hami)shire — an exceedingly popular and useful 
publication. 

He represented Concord in the legislature in 1826; was sen- 
ator from District No. 4 four years; for a short time second 
comptroller of the U. S. treasury; five years U. S. senator; and 
three years governor of the state. He died at Washington, 
March 22, 1851. 

Luther Roby, a native of the town, son of James Roby, 
born January 8, 1801, was, like Gov. Hill, a graduate from the 
Cabinet ofiice. He removed to Concord late in the autumn of 
1822, and, on the sixth of January, 1823, issued the first num- 
ber of the New Hampshire Statesman^ of which lie was man- 

*One who was intimate with Gov. Hill when in Amherst, relates that he met him 
while on his waj- to Concord to establish the Patriot. To the inquiry, AVhere are you 
going? Hill replied, — "I am going to Concord to print the truth; I have printed lies 
long enough." 



64 

ager and proprietor for the first six months of its existence ; 
he, however, disposed of his interest in it before the close of 
its first year, but continued in the printing and pubhshing 
business. In 1832 he established a stereotype foundry, where 
he niannfnctured several sets of plates for the Bilile, in pearl 
type, they being the first of the kind made in New England. 
Other books were stereotyped at his foundrj^, and several sets 
of plates manufactured there were sold to publishers in other 
places ; and large numbers of Bibles, Testaments, and other 
books have been printed from them. 

From plates manufactured in his foundry, and others pur- 
chased by him, he has printed 153,000 Bibles, of various styles, 
248,000 Testaments, 110,000 copies of Watts's Psalms and 
Hymns, besides 1,000,000 spelling-books, and large numbers of 
pamplilets. Latterly lie has devoted much time to opening and 
working the granite ledges in the city of his residence. The 
introduction of Concord granite, as a building material, will 
add much to the wealth of the city, and furnish hundreds of 
its citizens with employment. 

For nearly thirty years he was an active member of the fire 
department of Concord, of which he was chief engineer eight 
years. He was one of the representatives from Concord in 1837 
and 1849. 

John Farmer was for about a third of his life a resident of 
Amherst, coming here in 1805 from Chelmsford, where he was 
born June 12, 1789. At first he served as clerk in a store, 
which occupation his feeble health finally compelled him to re- 
linquish. He then engaged in teaching, in which profession he 
excelled. In 1820 he published an historical sketch of Amherst, 
which was revised and enlarged in 1837. He also commenced 
the study of medicine with Dr. Spalding, but shortly relinquished 
it, and removed to Concord in 1821; there formed a business 
connection with Dr. Samuel Morrill, in which he continued for 
a short time. After quitting this, he devoted most of his time 
to antiquarian and historical researches, in which matters he 
soon became an acknowledged authority. He was one of the 
founders of the New Hampshire Historical Society, of which he 
was for fourteen years the corresponding secretary. Ever ready 
and willing to aid in any good work, according to his strength 



Go 

and ability. He died, honored and lamented, August 13, 1838. 
His remains lie beside tliosc of his friend, Josepli Low, the first 
mayor of Concord, on whose lamily monument a suitable inscrip- 
tion is placed, in memory of the greatest antiquarian of New 
Hain])shire. 

Jose; h Low was one of what Dr. Bouton styles the "Am- 
herst colony." It consisted of several young men and women, 
most of them natives of Amherst, who settled in Concord many 
years ago, being nearly all of the same age. They were much 
together, aiding and assisting each other. Most of them ac- 
quired a competency, and nearly all of them were among the. 
most respected citizens of the place; — they were Francis N". 
Fi.sk, William Fisk and wife (Margaret Dodge), William Low 
and wife (Grace Nichols), Joseph Low, Benjamin Damon and 
wife (Sophia Nichols), Peter Robinson, and Isaac Hill. All lived 
to a good old age, — Francis N. Fisk, the oldest, being ninety 
years and five months old at the time of his death. 

William Fisk, son of Dea. William Fisk, was born at AYenliam, 
Mass., April 20, 1755; came to Amherst with his father in 
1773 ; he served on the board of selectmen for twenty-five 
consecutive years, eighteen of which he was also town clerk ; 
six years he represented the town in the general court; was 
senator from the seventh district four years, and twice an elect- 
or of president and vice-president of the United States, besides 
holding other important ofiices. He was for a long time one of 
the leaders of tlie old republican party, and was a man of de- 
cided ability. He died June 4, 1831. 

A history of the Fiske family was published by x\lbert A. 
Fiske, Chicago, 1867. 

Samuel Bell resided here for some years. His connection with 
the Hillsborough bank, of which he was president, injured his 
popularity here, as the vote for governor in 1819 and subse- 
quent years will show ; but the people of the state generally 
had full confidence in him. He was a member of the senate 
from the seventh district in 1807 and 1808, in both of which 
years he was its presiding ofiicer ; councillor for Hillsborough dis- 
trict one year; justice of the supreme court three years; gov- 
ernor four years ; and senator in congress twelve years, bei no- 
the second senator from New Hampshire who served two full 
5 



66 

terms in that body. Although he spoke but seldom in the senate, 
his advice was sought by his colleagues on all matters of impor- 
tance, and it is said the memorable speech of Mr. Webster, in 
reply to Col Hayne, January 26, 1830, was made at his sugges- 
tion and request. He died at Chester, December 23, 1850, aged 
eighty years. " Govei-nor Hill once indorsed him as being one 
of the best of men, and the very best of governors." 

Reuben Dimond Mussey, son of Dr. John Mussey, was born in 
1780. For some years in early life he resided on the place now or 
formerly occupied by Mr. Freeman Bills. Some reminiscences of 
his boyhood may be found in the Cabinet of April 1, 1874. He 
graduated at Dartmouth college in 1803 ; studied medicine, and 
commenced the practice of his profession at Salem, Mass., about 
1809, where he remained until 1814, when he accepted a pro- 
fessorship at Hanover, and removed there, remaining until 1888, 
when he removed to Cincinnati, and became professor of sur- 
gery in the Ohio Medical college. This position he filled 
until 1852, when he became connected with the Miami Medical 
college as professor of surgery. Leaving this in 1860, lie came 
to Boston to superintend the publication of one of his works, 
and remained there until his death, which took place June 21, 
1866. He was an earnest and laborious student in his jirofes- 
sion, in which he gained distinction as an instructor. 

Miss Hosea, Isaac Brooks, Esq., and Mr. Eli Wilkins were 
among the early teachers in the schools of Amherst. Miss Hosea 
seems to have been inclined to take life easily. I have the au- 
thoritv of one of her pupils, who was afterwards for a long time 
one of "ye f\\thers of ye towne," for saying, that after she had 
heard her pupils through tlieir lessons, she would request them 
to be good children while she took a nap ; but while the teacher 
slept, the wide awake pupils, the father aforesaid included, em- 
ployed themselves in chasing squirrels on tha log fences, or 
stoning the red-headed woodpeckers, which then abounded on 
the chestnut stubs standing in the fields near by. A dark col- 
ored slate stone, standing near the south-west corner of the new 
cemefery, marks the resting-place of this pioneer teacher. On 
it we read the inscription, — "Miss Mercy Hosea, died August 3, 
1838, aged 95." 

Isaac Brooks, Esq., was born in Woburn, Mass., August 16, 



67 

1757. He had the reputation of being an excellent teacher, 
excelling particularly in penmanship, as an examination of the 
county records from 1805 to 1828 will show. He married Ab- 
igail Kendrick, a sister of the mother of Gen. Pierce, and died 
December 21, 1840. 

Eli Wilkius, Esq., served on the board of selectmen eight 
years, commencing with 1781. He was an excellent penman. 
While teaching school he evidently did his best to keep out of 
harm's way himself, and guard against any unnecessary blood- 
shed among his pupils, one of whom (perhaps his testimony 
should be taken with some grains of allowance) used to say, 
that master Wilkins would, after putting on his coat and hat, 
open the door, and, having secured a way of escape for himself, 
dismiss his disciples Avith the injunction to let any killing that 
might be done be done accidentally. They were then left to 
"fight it out" at their leisure. 

I think that few complaints were made of frequent changes 
in text-books used in the schools in those times. The Testament 
and ^Esop's Fables, the last adorned with marvellous wood-cuts, 
furnished the older pupils with reading matter; Dilworth and 
Cocker furnished the arithmetics; while Perry's Spelling-book 
and the New England Primer, containing the shorter catechism 
and the lamentable account of " ye burning of Mr. John Rog- 
ers," delighted the hearts and eyes of the youngest of the flock. 

Strange visitors sometimes put in an appearance at these old- 
fashioned temples of science. On one occasion a house adder, of 
fair proportions, was discovered on the plate of the old school- 
house, in the Campbell district, in close proximity to the teach- 
er's head. A confusion of tongues ensued, and, after a vigorous 
application of clubs and the broomstick, the intruder Avas slain, 
to the great edification of the company. 

Samuel Wilkins, son of the first minister, was one of the 
three deacons elected January 10, 1774. He served on the 
board of selectmen fifteen years, and was town-clerk ten years. 
He seems to have been a stout muscular man in his prime, 
abounding in life and good liuraor. Like his father lie became 
very infirm in his old age, but was tenderly cared for by his 
sons Daniel and Thomas. In his youth he delighted in feats of 
strength and agility, and but few were found who could master 



68 

him in wrestling. Many anecdotes are told of him, showing 
his wit and good humor. On one occasion a boy, belonging to 
a family whose reputation for veracity was not very good, ap- 
peared before him very much frightened, saying he had seen a 
bear in the woods near by. " What sort of a tail had he ?" said 
the deacon. " A long bushy one," said the boy. " Is your 
name Pike?" quoth the deacon. "Yes." "Go right along, the 
bear won't hurt you." 

Wlien a little past middle life he had the misfortune to lose 
his wife, a most estimable woman, who left him with a large 
family of little ones. After a proper time had elapsed, he 
sought another partner, and, after making himself agreeable as 
possible to the chosen one, he one day asked if she thought of 
going to heaven. Somewhat surprised, she answered that she 
hoped to. So do I, said our deacon — what say you to making 
the rest of the journej^ with me? Not being denied, a very 
pleasant journey of some forty-four years' duration commenced 
shortly after. 

John Hubbard Wilkins, youngest son of Dea. Wilkins, grad- 
uated at Harvard college, 1818, was for a long time a publisher 
and stationer in Boston, and at one time the "whig" candi- 
date for mayor of that city. He was one of the first in this 
country to accept the views of Baron Swedenborg, and was 
for a long time an active member and supporter of the Church 
of the New Jerusalem, in Boston. 

George Wilkins Kendall, a grandson of Dea. Wilkins, was 
born in the old north-west parish, now Mont Vernon. He spent 
a good portion of his boyhood at his grandfather's, and is re- 
membered by those who attended school in the old "Taylor" 
district, at that time, as the wag of the school, abounding in 
sallies of wit and good-natured mischief. Pie was one of the 
originators, and for some time editor-in-chief of the New Orleans 
J^icayime. He travelled in nearly every state of the Union, 
and was a member of the ill-starred Santa Fe expedition in 
1841. After the close of the war with Mexico, he went to Texas, 
and engaged in sheep raising. He died there some years since. 

Another of the deacons of happy memory, who would have 
delighted the heart of Parson Murray, was the second Dea. Sea- 
ton, a native of the town, born (so says the town book) April 



G9 

8, 1756. His family was originally from Scotland. On the over- 
throw of the Stuarts, to whose fortunes the Seatons adhered, 
their estates were confiscated and the family dispersed. John 
and Andrew Seaton went to Tellahoage, Ireland. Some years 
after, John came to New England, and settled in Boxford, Mass., 
1729. Andrew sailed for Boston ten years later, with his fam- 
ily, and lost his wife in the wreck of the ship. He reached 
Boxford in 1740. John, son of John, married Ismenia, daughter 
of Andrew, and settled in Amherst. He was elected deacon 
January 10, 1774, and held the office till he removed to Wash- 
ington, N. H., 1787. He was a man of genuine worth — the 
fother of Ann Seaton, Avho married Hon. John Duncan, of An- 
trim, and of Dea. John Seaton, the subject of our notice, who 
was endowed with the gift of song. His ear delighted in the 
sounds of the viol and harp, and in his youth lie was chief 
among the dancers. In his mature life he was for a long time 
the leader among the singers in the sanctuary. 

I remember bira as an old man who generally came late to 
meeting, riding with his aged companion in an ancient chaise, 
which might have suggested the legend of " ye Deacon's one- 
horse shay " to Dr. Holmes. After securing his horse, he would 
make his way up the broad aisle to "ye deacon's seat," his prog- 
ress being announced by a pair of desperately creaking boots. 
His nose, of imperial dimensions, which would have excited 
the admiration of the first Kapoleon, and won for its owner the 
decoration of the grand legion of honor at sight, was the source 
of much amusement to him. Being seated at table one day, a 
stranger, who sat opposite him, suggested rather angrily that 
the application of a handkerchief to it would be a benefit." Ever 
ready to oblige, the deacon handed him the handkerchief with 
the request that he would attend to it, as he was nearer the 
offending member than its owner. A good understanding be- 
tween the parties was arrived at at once. 

Meeting the mail carrier, Wheat, one day, who, for some rea- 
son, disliked him, the deacon seized Wheat's nose, which rival- 
led his own in size, with his left hand, turning it as far as he 
could from him, at the same time turning his head half round 
to the right, he said — "I think, brother Wheat, that we can pass 
one another." " With charity for all, bearing malice towards 



70 

none," the good deacon jDassed tlirough life, and "fell asleep" 
October 3, 1836. 

Jonathan Hildreth, son of Jacob, born August 12, 1767, was 
for a long time a noted teacher of music in Amherst. For some 
years he was the chorister at the meeting-house. Being some- 
thing of a mechanic, he constructed several bass viols, some of 
which were used to aid in the services of the choir. He died 
July 4, 1816. His cousin, Benjamin Kendrick, was afterwards 
leader of the choir, and was noted for his skill in music. He 
died December 15, 1853, aged 74. 

In the army which took Quebec in 1759 was a youth of fif- 
teen winters, named Henry Cod. After the close of the war he 
obtained some knowledge of medicine, and engaged in practice 
in Amherst. Adding another syllable to his name, he became 
Dr. Codman. He seems to have possessed naturally a good 
stock of common sense, and had some skill in his profession, 
but was rough and eccentric in his manner. Towards the close 
of his life he indulged far too frequently in the use of what the 
fathers called strong waters. Many anecdotes of a ludicrous 
character are related of him. On one occasion he was called to 
visit a young lady belonging to one of the first .families, who 
had been severely wounded in the neck by being thrown from 
a carriage. She was well covered with blood when the healer 
entered the room, " well set up." " Well, Sal," quoth he, 
''you look like a great stuck pig" (the adjectives in the origi- 
nal omitted). 

Speaking of the doctors in Amherst, he said there were quite 
too many. " There are but four," was the answer. "There are 
a thousand," said Esculapius. "How do you make that out?" 
" There's me, I am one; there's S., he's a cypher; there's C, 
another cypher; and N., another one; and one and three cy- 
jihers make a thousand, don't they?" 

One time when the dysentery prevailed in town, the doctor was 
very successful in saving his patients. Other practitioners were 
not so fortunate, and lost nearly all. A good old lady, who 
was much among the sick, noticed that whenever he was called 
he left pills of an enormous size, giving directions that one, two, 
or three, or as many as the patient felt inclined to take, should 
be administered at a time — the more the better. After the sickly 



71 

season was over, the gooil lady asked him wliat the pills were 
made of. " Rye meal," said the doctor, " the best tiling in the 
world for the dysentery." 

Having taken " a drop too ranch," before starting on a pro- 
fessional trip one day, his horse stumbled and speedily unloaded 
his master, with the attendant saddle-bags. The medicines con- 
tained in the saddle-bags were badly mixed. So, stirring them 
all together, he administered doses of the compound with great 
success, performing wonderful cures, to his great delight. Speak- 
ing of it to a friend, the friend suggested that he had better 
prepare another dose similar to the one he had just used up. 
" I would do it," said the doctor, "but I'll be hanged if I know 
the right proportions of the medicines." 

Being summoned one day to visit an old lady in the northerly 
part of the town, he told some boys he met that he was going 
up to kill old Goody S. She was seventy-six years old, and had 
no business to live any longer. For his part, he did not mean to 
live so long as that ; would kill himself first. As good as his 
word, he died March 14, 1812, aged sixty-eight years. 

In the longevity of its inhabitants, I think Amherst compares 
favorably with other towns of equal size. I have in my posses- 
sion a list of one hundred and forty-four persons who have here 
deceased since January 1, 1823. Of them, one hundred and five 
were between eighty and ninety years ; thirty-six between ninety 
and one hundred years; and three over one hundred years of 
age. 

The oldest person of whom I have any record, who has died 
in town, was Mrs. Ilepsibah Hartshorn, daughter of Eben and 
Lydia Holt, from whom Holt's meadow derives its name. She 
was born June 13, 1747, and died January 11, 1851, at the age of 
one hundred and three years, six months, and twenty-eight days. 
She had been a cripple for many years, walking by the aid of a 
crutch; yet she milked her cow after .she had passed her ninety- 
fifth year. For some years before her death her hearing was 
much impaired. She occupied a log house, — the last of its kind, 
I think, in town, — which was taken down after her death. 

Mrs. Mary Barnard was born at Lancaster, Mass., March 29, 
1722, and died here October 13, 1823. She was a daughter of 
Jeremiah Holman, and was married to Robert Barnard, of Bol- 



72 

ton, Mass, One.of lier sons was Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, the 
second minister of Amherst, Her daughter, Miss Lydia Bar- 
nard, born at Bolton, JMass,, October 6, 1757, died in Amherst, 
September 17, 1859, lacking but a few days of one hundred and 
two years. A granddaughter, Mrs. Betsy King, daughter of 
Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, died at Rockdale, Iowa, January 14, 
1872, aged ninety-six years, six months, and eleven days, 

Daniel Campbell, Esq., the oldest man who has ever deceased 
in Amherst, was born in Londonderry, now Windham, N. H., 
June 27, 1739 ; settled in Amherst in 1760, where he resided 
until his death, which took place October 7, 1838. In his active 
life he was one of the leading citizens of the town, serving as 
moderator at the annual town-meeting, selectman for many 
years, and representative. Possessed of a strong will, an iron 
constitution, and energy enough for a dozen men, his strength 
and faculties held out remarkably to the last. In his old age 
he was quite a politician. He attended and voted at the town- 
meeting the spring before liis death. 

Jenny Hylands, to whom he was married, June 25, 17G0, was 
a few months older than her husband, and a native of London- 
derry. She was a woman of rare energy and excellence; one 
in whom " the heart of her husband did safely trust." She 
literally " made linen, and sold it. She looked well to the ways 
of her household, and ate not the bread of idleness. Her hus- 
band praised her. Her children also arise up and call her bless- 
ed." She died November 25, 1815, aged seventy-seven. 

This family, consisting of five members, is remarkable for 
longevity, — the father dying at the age of ninety-nine, the 
mother at seventy-seven, their son at seventy-five, their eldest 
daughter at eighty-two, and their youngest daughter at ninety- 
two ; an average of eighty-five years. 

The oldest person who ever lived in town is Mrs. An ah Goss, 
who will complete her one hundred and fourth year on the 1st 
day of February, 1874. 

According to the census of 1870, there were eighty-two per- 
sons in town over seventy years of age. Of these, fifty-nine 
were between seventy and eighty ; twenty-two between eighty 
and ninety ; and one over one hundred years. 

The eldest male native of Amherst, now living, is probably 



73 

Mr. Uriah Wilkins,* son of Aaron and Lydia Smitli Wilkins, 
who completed his eighty-fifth year, November 4, 1873. Two 
of liis brothers have deceased, — one aged eighty-four years and 
four months, the other aged seventy years and one month ; one 
is still living, aged eighty-three years and three months. Two 
sisters have deceased, — one at the age of eighty-six years and 
two months, the other aged seventy-five years and four months ; 
one is now living, aged seventy-nine years and seven months. 
Average age of the members of the family at the present time, 
eighty and four sevenths years. 

But I trespass too long upon your patience. Our town and 
its people have a history of which no one need be ashamed. 
Generations of patriotic, noble-hearted men, and chaste, loving 
women, have here lived and passed away. Tlieir memories are 
blessed. Let it be our endeavor so to live, that the record of 
the sons and daughters of old Amherst, handed down to us, 
shall be transmitted without spot or blemish to our successors. 



To the foregoing description of former citizens, by Mr. Secomb, 
I append a list of the officers of the church, with such facts re- 
lating to their lives and characters as I have been able to gather 
since the discourse was written ; also, a list of all the grad- 
uates at colleges from Amherst, so far as I have been able to 
ascertain the names. 

J. G. DAVIS. 



DEACONS OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH IN AMHERST. 



Humphrey Hobbs, the first in this office, was elected January 
6, 1743. He was a man of great personal courage, having the 
true instincts of a soldier. His success in the conflict with the 
Indians in Amherst seems to have led him to enter the volun- 
teer service in defence of the province. He was captain of a 

* Mr. Wilkins died early in April, 1874. 



74 

company, stationed at Charlestown, No. 4, and in that capacity 
exhibited superior qualities in skirmishes with the Indians. 

Joseph Boutell, the second deacon, was elected June 3, 1743. 
From an obituary notice, published in the first volume of the 
AmJierst Journal, I learn that " he served in this office fifty-two 
years, during which his exemplary behaviour rendered him an 
honor and an ornament to the holy profession he had made and 
the office he sustained, and secured for him the respect and 
esteem of all who knew him." He died May 19, 1795, in his 
eighty-ninth year. 

Third — James Cochran was elected deacon in 1744, to fill the 
vacancy made by the resignation of Dea. Plobbs. I have not 
been able to learn his origin. He held the office, enjoying the 
confidence of his brethren, till his death, January 5, 1774. 

On the 10th January, 1774, a meeting of the church, "duly 
notified," was held for " the purpose of choosing several breth- 
ren into the sacred office of deacon," when, by a major part of 
the votes taken, Mr. Samuel Wilkins, Mr. John Seaton, and 
Mr. Nahum Baldwin were chosen into said office. This election 
was consequent on the death of Dea. Cochran, and the fresh 
interest awakened by the completion of the new meeting-house. 
All these persons are mentioned elsewhere, and in connec- 
tions that prove that they were men of vigorous sense and prac- 
tical talents, asserting a decided influence among their townsmen 
in the agitation and debates of that stirring period. Dea. Wil- 
kins resigned his office in 1816. 

On the 18th of June, 1788, Dea. Baldwin, having died in 
May, and Dea. Seaton having removed from town the preced- 
ing year, Mr. Ephraim Barker and Mr. Joshua Lovejoy " were 
chosen into the office " of deacons. 

Dea. Barker was widely known as a man of business, and a 
superior mechanic. He was twice married, — had a large and 
interesting family, and was highly respected by the community. 
He was distinct and tenacious in the expression of his theo- 
logical opinions. Being an excellent singer, he acted as chorister 
in the church for many years. He was a native of Rockingham 
county; born in or near Exeter, 1732, and died September 29, 
1800. 

Joshua Lovejoy and his wife brought letters from the Second 



75 

church in Andover, Mass., on which they were admitted to this 
church April 22, 1781. He was a man of fair talents, without 
much education. Served as selectman and town clerk in the 
years 1790-1794. He removed from town soon after, and died 
at Sanbornton, January 28, 1832, at the age of eighty-eight. 

" On the 3d September, 1795, Dea. Boutell having deceased, 
and Dea. Lovejoy having left town," Mr. Amos Elliott, born June 
17, 1755, son of Francis, and John Seaton, son of John, born 
April 8, 1756, were chosen deacons. Dea. Seaton is described 
on page 68, and, notwithstanding his peculiarities, was a valuable 
citizen. Dea. Elliott was a farmer, of retiring manners, but 
highly esteemed as a consistent Christian. After his death, 
April 7, 1807, John Hartshorn, born June 21, 1759, second son 
of James, who came to Amherst late in the autumn of 1761, 
from Reading, Mass., was elected deacon September 1, 1808. 
Like Dea. Elliott, whom he succeeded, he was by occupation a 
farmer, and a man of few words. In personal appearance he 
was a man of dignity, as became the office, in which he pur- 
chased a good degree, being a man of sound judgment and 
real Christian worth. He continued in office till his death, 
November 28, 1842. 

In the spring of 1816, Richard Boylston, David Holmes, Ed- 
mund Parker, with their waves, united w'ith the church, and 
several ineffectual efforts were made to persuade these gentle- 
men and others to accept the office of deacon. In one case, if 
not more, the candidate was elected in anticipation of his be- 
coming a member of the church. After the installation of Dr. 
Lord as pastor, the objections previously entertained were re- 
moved, and Matthias Spalding and David Holmes consented to 
sferve. 

Dr. Spalding, born at Chelmsford, Mass., June 25, 1769, grad- 
uated at Harvard college, 1798, commenced practice in Am- 
herst, 1806, where lie gained a wide reputation as a skilful 
physician and surgeon; was elected deacon May 29, 1817, and 
continued in office till his death, May 22, 1865. Through life 
he was distinguished for his fine social qualities, gentlemanly 
deportment, and steadfast support of religious institutions. In 
times of difficulty he was a good counsellor, and by his consid- 
erate management was often of great service to the church in 



76 

mainta"niui>' discipline. For a more complete statement of his 
character, as a citizen, an esteemed and honored member of the 
medical profession, and other particulars of his long and useful 
life, see Spalding Memorial, pp. 79-83. 

David Holmes, who was elected deacon at the same time? 
after a few years, in 1823, resigned his office, as his views of 
religious doctrine were not in harmony with the prevailing sen- 
timent in the church. He became an active member of the 
Christian society, and, on his removal from town, settled at 
Lowell, Mass. 

Amos Elliott, son of Amos, and the second deacon of that 
name, was elected November 1, 1823. He is represented as a 
man of slight figure, a skilful musician, fond of books, and often 
employed in teaching school. He held the office three years, 
dying in 1826, at the age of fifty-two. The name and services 
of the Elliotts, fother and son, are pleasantly associated with 
those of Dea. Hartshorn, in the cherished remembrances of the 
neighborhood in which they lived, generally designated as 
" Christian Hill." 

Edmund Parker was' born at Jafirey, February 7, 1783; grad- 
uated at Dartmouth college, 1803. Came to Amherst, where 
he studied law. Opened a law office in 1807, and soon gained 
distinction in his profession. He was a thorougli student of the 
Scriptures, and his life was penetrated and directed by its pre- 
cepts. Elected deacon May 15, 1832. He retained the office 
until his removal to Nashua in 1836. He is described by Dr. 
Edward Spalding " as a representative man, to whose wisdom 
and prudence others willingly deferred. In social and public 
meetings he was conspicuously active and influential, — especially 
in seasons of unusual religious interest, when his sound judg- 
ment and devout piety made him a true colleague to his pastor, 
and a paternal helper to those seeking the way of life. Under 
a natural sedateness and gravity of manner, which to a stran- 
ger indicated something of sternness, there glowed a warm and 
generous heart, full of kindly impulses, and ever ready for some 
good Avord or work. He loved the society of the young, and 
in his advanced years retained the playfulness of a boy. Few 
men take as much pains as he did to encourage and lend a help- 
ing hand to those beginning the struggle of life. Take him 



lor all in all, he filled with rare completeness the measnre of a 
Christian gentleman's life." He Avasa trustee of Dartmouth 
college from 1828 to 185G. On his removal to Nashua lie was 
chosen deacon in the Olive Street church, and continued in office 
till the time of his death, which occurred at Claremont, while 
on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Prentiss, September 8, 1856. 

Abel Downe, born November 2, 1788. Came to Amherst 
from Fitchburg, Mass., about the year 1832. Chosen deacon 
January 21, 1836, and continued in office till his death, Septem- 
ber 28, 1840. He is described as a man of quiet manners and 
genial spirit, a trustworthy citizen and devoted Christian. He 
was much esteemed by all who knew him. 

David Fisk, 3d, born at Merrimack, September 12, 1792, was 
elected deacon Nov. 18, 1836. A man of commanding presence, 
vigorous mind, and decided oj^inions. He was prompt and true 
in meeting the calls of duty. He was firm in the expression of 
his religious sentiments, but, practically, benevolent and kind. 
Having served in this office with an upright and zealous Chris- 
tian character for twenty-three years, he removed to Nashua 
in 1860, where he died, after an honored old age, June 22, 1873. 
For details of his life, see history of the Fiske family, p. 156. 

Cyrus Eastman, born May 7, 1787, at Concord, of a race dis- 
tinguished for the substantial qualities of energy, prudence, and 
piety, was chosen deacon December 30, 1836. Naturally im- 
pulsive, and almost indiffijrent to his own pecuniary advantage, 
he was humble and hearty in his devotion to the welfare of the 
church. Averse to strife, he shared his full proportion of all 
the burdens of society, fulfilling the duties of his office with 
reverence and fidelity until the end of his life, December 17, 
1862. See Farmer's Cabinet, December 25, 1862. 

Aaron Lawrence, born in Hollis, December 3, 1803, was train- 
ed in a store for mercantile pursuits. Tall, but slight in figure, 
he was never robust in health. Naturally timid and distrustful, 
he persisted, in obedience to the calls of duty, till he acquired 
character and influence. He united with the church early in 
life, and for many years was the only young man in it. He was 
a cordial supporter of the ministry, thoughtful and friendly to 
the young and the homeless, generous to the needy, and a 
liberal patron of all Christian enterprises. Elected deacon 



78 

November 2, 1860, He held the office till his death, September 
1, 1867, when a sermon was preached delineating his character. 
His attachment to the church and the town was manifested by 
valuable legacies. 

In reviewing the names of these officers, it is manifest that 
this church has been highly favored in the consistent and trust- 
worthy character of its deacons. The larger portion of this 
number were men of intelligence and superior understanding, — 
illustrating in their lives the principles of the New Testament. 
Three fourths of the catalogue attained to an unusual age, con- 
firming the declaration of the Psalmist, — " Those that be plant- 
ed in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our 
God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be 
fat and flourishing, to show that the Lord is upright." 

The present officers of the church are, — Barnabas B. David, 
elected January 2, 1845 ; Edward D. Boylston, elected April 12, 
1860; Charles H. David, elected November 2, 1871. 



GRADUATES AT COLLEGE FROM AMHERST. 



AT HAKVAED COLLEGE. 



NAME. 


DATE. 


PROFESSION. 


*John Wilkins, 


1774, 


Instructor. 


*Jacob Kimball, 


1788, 


Farmer. 


*Charles H. Atherton, 


1794, 


Lawyer. 


*Daniel Weston, 


1795, 


Clergyman. 


*William Gordon, 


1806, 


Lawyer. 


*James F. Dana, 


1813, 


Physician. 


*Samuel L. Dana, 


1813, 


Physician. 


*John H. Wilkins, 


1818, 


Bookseller. 


*Charles G. Atherton, 


1822, 


Lawyer. 


^Stephen R. Holmes, 


1822, 


Instructor. 



* Deceased. 



79 



AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 



NAME. 


DATE. 


PROFESSION, 


*Reiiben D. Masscy, 


1803, 


Physician. 


*Benjamin F. Frencli, 


1812, 


Lawyer. 


*Jaines McK. Wilkins, 


1812, 


Lawyer. 


*Levi Ilartshonij 


1813, 


Clergyman. 


Allen Fisk, 


1814, 


Instructor. 


*Samuel Wliiting, 


1818, 


Lawyer. 


Charles F. Elliott, 


1829, 


Physician. 


Edward Spalding, 


1833, 


Physician. 


Charles E. Parker, 


18.34, 


Physician. 


William Read, 


1839, 


Physician. 


*Ed\vard H. Pratt, 


1841, 


Physician. 


Alfred Spalding, 


1843, 


Physician. 


Edward Aiken, 


1851, 


Physician. 


John II. Clark, 


1857, 


Physician. 


*Cliarles II. Wallace, 


1857, 


Studied Law. 


Vaola J. Hartshorn, 


1860, 


Clergyman. 


Warren TTphani, 


1871, 


Civil Engineer. 


AT BOWDOIN COLLEGE 




NAME. 


DATE. 


PROFESSION. 


*Robert Means, 


1807, 


Lawyer. 


*William Appleton, 




Lawyer. 


*James Means, 


1833, 


Clergyman. 


AT AMHERST COLLEGE 




NAME. 


DATE. 


PROFESSION. 


William 0. Baldwin, 


1851, 


Clergyman. 


John E. Wheeler, 


1857, 


Clergyman. 


Wm. B. Clark, 


186.5, 


Banker. 


AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE 




NAME. 


DATE. 


PROFESSION, 


Edward C. David, 


1850, 


Lawyer, 


William G. David, 


1852, 


Physician. 



* Deceased. 



80 

Tlie following documents, from authentic sources, may pos- 
sess some interest to those who are curious in such matters. 

S. 

On the 16th of March, 1621, the inhabitants of Plymouth, Mass., 
were alarmed at seeing a sturdy Indian walk into their settle- 
ment, and, passing by the houses, go directly where the people 
were collected. He saluted them in broken English, and bade 
them welcome. He was affable; told them his dwelling was five 
days' travel from thence, and that he was a sagamore or prince. 
He understood the geography of the country; gave an account 
of the different tribes, their sagamores, and number of men. 
They kindly entertained him, and gave him a horseman's coat. 
He tarried all night, and received, on going away, a knife, a 
bracelet, and a ring, and promised in a few days to return again. 
He returned, according to promise, and brought five others with 
him. They sung and danced, and were very friendly and 
familiar. 

The 22d of March Samoset came again, and brought Squande 
with him, wlio had been carried to Spain and sold there ; but, 
escaping, had made his way to London, and from thence to 
America. Three others accompanied them, and gave informa- 
tion that Massasoit, — one of the most powerful sagamores of the 
neighboring Indians, — was neai'. He soon appeared on the top 
of a hill near by, accompanied by sixty men. Edward Winslow 
was sent to treat with him, carrying presents of jewelry, food, 
and strong water. After receiving the presents, they were 
desired to visit the governor, who received them with drum and 
trumpet sounding, and other military parade. A green rug and 
three or four cushions were spread for the company. The gov- 
ernor kissed the king's hand, and the king his, and both sat 
do\vn. "Strong water" was then given the king, who drank a 
great draught that made him sweat all the while after. Vic- 
tuals were then set before them. Massasoit at this meeting 
entered into a formal and very friendly treaty with the English, 
wherein they agreed to avoid injuries on both sides, to punish 
offenders, to restore stolen goods, to assist each other in all jus- 
tifiable wars, to promote peace among their neighbors, &c. 

Massasoit and his successors, for forty years, inviolably ob- 



81 

served this treaty, and tlie English were mucli indebted to liini 
for his friendship. 

In 1(362, Alexander, the son and successor of Massasoit, jeal- 
ous of the growing power of the English, invited the Narragan- 
setts, — a powerful tribe, — to join witli him in revolting from the 
English. Learning this. Gen. Winslow went with ten men and 
brought him to Plymouth, where, though he was treated very 
civilly, his vexation and madness threw him into a fever, of 
which he died. Ilis brother Philip succeeded him, and renewed 
the covenant with the English ; yet, in 1671, he commenced hos- 
tilities against them, but was soon subdued, and promised never 
to begin war again before he had made complaint himself to 
Plymouth colony. 

In 1674 one John Sassamon, an Indian whom the settlers 
employed as a missionary to instruct his brethren, informed the 
governor that Philip and several other sachems were plotting 
the destruction of the English. Soon after this Sassamon was 
found murdered. Three Indians were arrested, tried, convicted, 
and hung for the murder. Philip, much offended at this, sent 
away his women, armed his men, and robbed several houses of 
the settlers in the vicinity of his own dwelling. 

June 24, 1675, the colony observed as a day of humiliation 
and prayer. As the people of Swanzey were returning from 
public worship, the Indians, lying in ambush, fired a volley, 
killing one man and wounding another. Two persons who went 
for a surgeon were shot, and in another part of the town six 
persons more were killed. 

The war thus commenced raged fiercely through the summer 
and autumn of that year. Finally the Indians were defeated in 
a fight at Hatfield, and sought shelter on a small piece of dry 
land, surrounded by a great swamp. There they fortified them- 
selves as well as they were able, and awaited the onset of the 
English, which was made December 19, 1675, and resulted in 
the total defeat and overthrow of the Indians, — probably 1,000 
of their number being slain, or dying of wounds received in the 
battle. The victory was, however, dearly bought by the con- 
querors, a large number of whom were slain. Philip escaped, 
and Avith his remaining warriors did much mischief Finally, 
being closely pursued by the English, he took refuge in a swamp, 
6 



82 

where lie was shot througli the heart by an Indian, Augnst 12, 
1676. His head was sent to Plymouth, where it was received on 
the day they had devoted to solemn thanksgiving. 

Never, says the historian, has New England seen so dismal a 
period as the war with Philip. About 600 men, — the flower of 
her strength, — had fallen in battle. There were few families 
who had not lost some near relation. Twelve or thirteen towns 
had been utterly destroyed, and others greatly damaged. 
About 600 buildings, chiefly dwelling-houses, had been burned, 
and a large debt contracted. About every eleventh family had 
been burned out, and an eleventh part of the militia slain. So 
costly is the inheritance we have received from our fathers. 

With the avowed intention of rewarding the soldiers who 
served in this war, coupled probably with the desire to strength- 
en their claim to the government and soil of New Hampshire, 
the general coui-t of Massachusetts, at its session in June, 1728, 
made the following grant : 

At a Great and General Court or Assembly for His Majesty's 
Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, Begun and 
holden at Boston, the 29th day of May, 1728. 

June 15, 1728, In the House of Representatives. 

In answer to the Petition of the Soldiers that served in the 
Narraganset War. Resolved, That Major Chandler, Mr. Ed- 
ward Shove, Major Tilestone, and Mr. John Hobson (or any 
three of them) be a" Committee, fully authorized and empow- 
ered to survey and lay out two tracts of land for townships, of 
the contents of six miles square each, in some of the unappro- 
priated Land of this Province; and that the said lands be 
granted and disposed of to the persons, whether Oflicers or Sol- 
diers, belonging to this Province, who were in the service of 
their country in the said Narraganset War, or to their lawful 
Representatives, as a reward for their public services ; and is in 
full satisfaction of the Grant formerly made them by the Great 
and General Court. And forasmuch as it is the full Intent and 
Purpose of this Court, that every Officer and Soldier should 
have a compensation made him over and above what wages and 
o-i-atuities any of them have already received. 

That Public Notice be given in the News Letters, and adver- 



83 

tiseraents be posted up in every Town in the Province, notify- 
ing all Persons that now survive and that were in that fight, 
and the legal Representatives of those deceased, that tliey give 
or send a list of their names and descents to this Court at their 
next fall session ; and when such list is completed, by a Com- 
mittee then to be appointed by this Court, the Grantees shall 
be obliged to assemble in as short a time as they can conven- 
iently, not exceeding six months, and proceed to the choice of 
a Committee to regulate each Propriety, who shall pass such 
orders and rules as will oblige them effectually to settle sixty 
families at least in each Township, with a learned Orthodox 
minister, Avithin the space of seven years from the date of the 
Grant. PROVIDED, nevertheless. That if said Grantees shall 
not effectually settle the said number of families in each Town- 
ship, and also lay out a lot of land for the first settled minis- 
ter, — One for the Ministry, and one for the school in each of 
said Townships, — they shall have no advantage, but forfeit their 
said Grants, any thing to the contrary herein contained not- 
withstanding. 
Exd, pr. Thads. Mason, Dep. Sec'y- 
In Council read and concurred. Consented to. 

William Dummer. 

A true copy. Attest : Samuel Kneeland, Clerk. 

June 8, 1732. 

In the House of Representatives, Voted : to allow a further 
grant of land to the Officers and Soldiers who were in the Nar- 
raganset fight, so that every 120 persons whose claims had 
been or should be allowed within four months from that date, 
should have a Township of the contents of six miles square; and 
that the same Committee, who laid out the two first Townships, 
should lay out the remainder at the expense of the Province. 

Concurred in by the Council, June 9, 1732. 

J. Willard, Secy. 

Apr. 20, 1733. Approved, J. BELCHER^ Gov. 

The whole number of persons whose claims were allowed, 
being eight hundred and forty, an act was passed June 30, 1732, 
granting them 5 additional townships. This act was concurred 



84 

in by the Council, July 4, 1732, and approved by Gov. Belcher, 
April 26, 1733. 

All the grantees, or their representatives, assembled on Bos- 
ton Common, June 6, 1733, at which time they divided them- 
selves into seven distinct societies, of 120 persons, each society 
being entitled to one township. Three persons were chosen 
from each society, who, on the 17th of October, 1733, assign- 
ed the several townships among their respective societies. No. 
3, afterwards called Souhegan West No. 3, was assigned to the 
Salem Society, which consisted of the following persons : 



SALEM. 



John Harradvvay's heirs, 
John Elwell, 
John Rabson, 
Thomas Putnam, 
Nathaniel Soams, 
Robert Hutchinson, 
Ezekiel Marsh, 
William Fuller, 
Jonathan Marsh, 
Jonathan Verry, 
Joseph Holton, 
John Flynt, 

Samuel Pickworth's heirs. 
William Curtis, 
John Trask, 



Thomas Bell, 
Jonathan Lambert, 
William Osburn, 
John Bullock, 
Jeremiah Neal, 
John Gloyd, 
Habbakuk Gardner, 
John Abbott, 
Thomas Kency's heirs, 
Edward Hollis' heirs, 
Joseph Prince, 
John Tarbell's heirs, 
Thomas Larkin, 
Samiuel Manning's heirs. 



MARBLEHEAD. 



William Hind, 
Richard Shapley, 
Jonathan Wolcott, 
Joseph Majory, 

Henry Collins, 
John Newhall, 
Thomas Baker, 
William Bassett, 



Thomas Martin, 
Joseph Sweat, 
Jeremiah Getchel. 



LYNN. 



Samuel Greaves, 
Samuel Edmonds, 
John Farrington, 
Michael Bowden, 



85 



Richard Johnson, 
William Collins, 
Ebenezor Bunill, 
Benjamin Potter, 
Joseph Farr, 
Benjamin Ramsdell, 
Ruth Driver, 
Samuel Newhall, 
John Ballard, 
Richard Moor, 



Joseph Farr, 
Robert Rand, 
Edmond Lewis, 
Samuel Tarbox's heirs, 
Jonathan Johnson, 
Ebenezer Burrill, 
Timothy Breed, 
Andrew Townsend's heirs, 
Joseph Haven. 



GLOUCESTER. 



Jacob Row, 
Samuel Ingersoll, 
Edw. Harrington, 



Ebenezer Tyler, 
James Fry, 
William Ballard, 
John Press on, 



John Day, 
Samuel Stevens. 



ANDOVER, 



John Ballard, 
Ebenezer Barker, 
Andrew Peters, 
John Parker. 



TOPSriELD. 



Zaccheus Perkins, 
Nathaniel Wood, 
Moses Pingreese, 
Abraham Fitts' heirs, 
Thomas Davis' heirs, 
Elihu Wardwell's heirs, 
John Hutchins' heirs, 



Josiah Clark's heirs, 
James Foi'd's heirs, 
Samuel Perkins' heirs, 
Joseph Herrick, 
Jonathan Wilds' heirs, 
Samuel Kneeland, 
Samuel Kneeland. 



BEVERLY. 



Thomas Rayment, 
Ralph Elinwood, 
Henry Bayley, 
Christopher Reed, 
Lot Conant, 
Thomas Blackfield, 
Andrew Dodge, 



Joseph Morgan, 
William Dodge's heirs, 
John Dodge's heirs, 
Jonathan Byells, 
William Payment's heirs, 
Joseph Pickett, 
Samuel Harris' heirs. 



86 



WENHAM. 



Thomas Abbott, 
Elizabeth Fowler, 
John Batchelder, 



William Rogers, 
Thomas Perkins. 



BOXFOED. 



Stephen Peabocly, 
James Curtis, 



John Bowtell, 



Joseph Hatch, 



John Andrews, 
John Bixbe. 

BEADFOED. 

Ichabod Boynton. 

SCARBOEOUGH. 

John Harmon. 

EEADIXG. 

Thomas Bancroft. 

TOEK. 

Denison Sargent. 

FALMOUTH. 

Philip Dexter. 

CHATHAM. 

Robert Nicholson. 



The first meeting of the grantees of IsTarraganset No. 3, or 
Souhegan West, was held at Salem village, now Danvers, July 
17, 1734 ; and their first meeting within the limits of the town- 
ship was held at the meeting-house, January 30, 1745. 

The first settlement of the town was probably made in the 
spring of 1735, by Samuel Walton and Samuel Lampson, on 
the place now occupied by Mr. Bryant Melendy. Walton died 
in Amherst. None of his descendants remain here. Lampson 
died in Billei-ica, but his children remained in Amherst, where 
some of their descendants still reside. 



87 



CHARTER OF AMHERST— 1760. 



PnOVIXCE OP NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, 
France, and Ireland, King, Defender of Faith : 

To all to whom these Presents shall come. Greeting. 

Whereas our Loyal subjects, Inliabitants of a Tract of Land 
within our Province of New Hampshire, known by the name of 
Souhegan West, on the western side of Merrimac, have humbly 
petitioned and requested us that they may be erected and In- 
corporated into a Township, and Infranchised with the same 
powers and priveleges wliich other Towns within our said Prov- 
ince by law have and enjoy. And it appearing to us to be con- 
ducive to the general good of our said Province, as well as of 
the said Inhabitants in particular, by maintaining good order 
and encouraging the culture of the land, that the same should 
be done. Know Ye, therefore, that We, of our special Grace, 
certain knowledge, and for the encouragement and promoting 
of the good ends aforesaid, By and with the advice of our trusty 
and well beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and 
Commander-in-chief, and of our Council for said province of 
New Hampshire, Have erected and ordained, and by these Pres- 
ents for us, our heirs and successors, Do Will and ordain that 
the Inhabitants of the Tract of land aforesaid, and who shall 
inhabit and improve thereon hereafter, the same being Butted 
and Bounded as follows : Viz., Beginning at Souhegan River; 
thence running North, 1 degree West, on the townships of Mer- 
rimac and Bedford, six miles ; thence running west on Bedford 
and a tract of land called New Boston, six miles ; thence South 
about five miles and a half to Souhegan River aforesaid ; thence 
by said River to the place where it began ; Be, and hereby are, 
declared and ordained to be a Town Corporate, and are hereby 
erected and Incorporated into a body Politic and Corporate, to 
to have continuance until the first of January, 1762, by the 
name of Amherst, with all the Powers and Authorities, Privi- 
leges, Immunities, and Franchises which any other Towns iu 



88 

said Province, by Law, hold and enjoy to the said inhabitants, 
or who shall hereafter inhabit there, and their successors, for 
said terra, always reserving to us, our Heirs and Successors, all 
White Pine trees that are, or shall be found growing, and being 
on said tract of land lit for the use of our Royal Navy ; Reserv- 
ing also to us, our Heirs and successors, the power and the right 
of dividing said town, when it shall appear necessary and con- 
venient to the Inhabitants thereof. Provided, nevertheless, and 
it is hereby declared, that this Charter and Grant is not intend- 
ed, and shall not in any manner be construed to extend to, or 
affect the Private Property of the soil within the limits afore- 
said. And as the several towns within our said Province afore- 
said are by the laws thereof enabled and authorized to assemble, 
and by the majority of voters present to choose all such officers, 
and transact such affairs as in the said laws are declared. We do, 
by these presents, nominate and appoint Lieut. Col. John Goffe 
to call the first meeting of said Inhabitants, to be held within 
said town, at any time within forty days from the date hereof, 
giving legal notice of the Time and design of holding such 
meeting. After which the annual meeting in said Town shall 
be held, for the choice of Officers and the purposes aforesaid, on 
the second Monday in March annually. 

In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our Prov- 
ince to be hereunto affixed. 

Witness — Benning Wentworth, Esquire, our Governor and 
Commander-in-Chief of our said Province, the eighteenth day 
of January, in the Thirty-Third year of our Reign, and in the 
Year of our Lord Christ, One thousand and seven hundred and 
sixty. 

BENNING WENTWORTH. 

By his Excellency's command, Avith advice of Council. 
Theodore Atkixsoj^, Secy. 

Province of New Hampsliire, 
Recorded in the Book of Charters, page 212 and 213, this 
19th day of January, 17G0. pr. 

THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy. 



89 



WARRANT FOR THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING. 

FROM THE TOWX RECORDS. 

Province of New Hampshire, January 21, 1760. 

Notice is hei'eby given to all Persons Inhabiting that tract of 
Land formerly known by the name of Souhegan West, or Nar- 
raganset No. 3, that Whereas it has pleased his Excellency Gov. 
Wentworth, with the advice of the Council of this Province, 
to Incorporate the tract of land with the Inhabitants into a 
Township by the name of Amherst, and as it has pleased the 
said Governor and Council to nominate and appoint me, the 
subscriber, to call the first meeting for the choice of Town Ofii- 
cers. 

These are, therefore, to Warn all the freeholders and other 
Inhabitants of said tract of Land now in the Town of Am- 
herst, that they meet at the Meeting House in said town upon 
Wednesday, the Twentieth day of February next, at ten of the 
clock in the forenoon: To first, hear the Charter read; second, 
To choose all Town Officers for the Year ensuing, and till the 
second Tuesday of March in the Year 1761, as other Towns 
within this Province do. 

Given under my hand this day and year above written. 

JOHN GOFFE. 



RECORD OF THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING. 

Province of New Hampshire, February the 20th, 1760. 

By virtue of a Charter, Granted by the Governor and Coun- 
cil of said Province, incorporating the tract of land, with the 
inhabitants of it, formerly known by the name of Souhegan 
West, into a town by the name of Amherst, and appointing 
Lieut. Col. John Gofie to call the first meeting for the choosing 
Town Officers for the ensuing year, by virtue of said charter I 
have called a meeting this twentieth day of February, 1760. 

Upon said day the Inhabitants universally met, then without 
one contrary vote made choice of Solomon Hutchinson for 
Town Clerk, who was immediately sworn to the faithful execu- 
tion of that office. 



90 

Voted, Col. John Gofle Moderator for said Meeting. 

Voted, that the Charter is accepted. 

Voted, that there shall be five Selectmen for the present year. 

Voted, that these shall be Selectmen : Solomon Hutchinson, 
William Bradford, Reuben Mussey, Reuben Gould, Thomas 
Clark. 

Voted, a Committee to examine the towns accounts : William 
Lancy, Benjamin Taylor, Thomas Wakefield. 

Tythingmen, David Hartshorn, Nathan Kendall. 

Voted, that the Selectmen be fence-viewers. 

Clerk of the market, Thomas Wakefield. 

Deer keepers, Joseph Steel, Joseph Prince, Will Lancy. 

Field drivers, Nathan Fuller, Ebenezer Weston, Jr., James 
Seetown, James Rollins. 

Constables, Ebenezer Weston, Joshua Abbott. 

Surveyors of Highways, James Seetown, Ephraim Abbott, 
Samuel Stewart, Andrew Bradford, Will Lancy. 

Voted, that the Selectmen shall be overseers of the poor for 
the present year. 

Voted, Surveyor of lumber John Shepard, Jr. 

These ofticers were sworn on said day to their several offices 
by John Gofie, Esq. 



ASSOCIATION TEST OF 1776. 

Copied from the original in the office of the Secretary of State, 
Concord, JV. IT. 

TO TUE SELECTMEN' OF AMHERST. 

In Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776. 
In order to carry the underwritten Resolves of the Hon'ble 
Continental Congress into execution. You are I'equested to 
desire all males above Twenty One years of age (Lunaticks, Id- 
iots, and Negroes excepted) to sign the declaration on this 
paper: and when so done, to make return hereof, together with 
the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to 
the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Colony. 

M. WEARE, Chairman. 



91 



In Congress, Maicli 14, 1776. 
Resolvecl, that it be recommended to the several assemblies, 
Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the 
United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be dis- 
armed within their Respective Colonies, who are notoriously 
disaffected to the cause of America, or Avho have not associated, 
and refuse to associate, to defend by arms, the United Colonies 
against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies. 

Extract from the minutes. 
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary. 

In consequence of the above resolution of the Hon. Conti- 
nental Congress, and to show our determination in joining our 
American brethren in defending the Lives, Liberties, Properties 
of the Inhabitants of the United Colonies : — 

We, the Subscribers, do liereby engage and promise, that we 
will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our Lives and 
Fortunes, with arms, oppose the Hostile ])roceedings of the 
British Fleets and Armies, against the United American Colonies. 



Nahum Baldwin, 
Moses Nichols, 
William Bradford, 
Josiah Crosby, 
Peter Woodbury, 
Thomas Burns, 
Robert Means, 
Nathan Jones, 
Joseph Boutel, 
Timothy Smith, 
Thomas Carell, 
Ephraim Hildreth, 
Nathan Kendal, 
Benjamin Day, 
Reuben Boutel, 
Ebenezer Kea, 
Kendal Boutwel, 
Oliver Carlton, 
Hezekiah Lovejoy, 
Enos Bradford, 



Henry Codraan, 
Peter Robinson, 
Jona. Smith, 
John Burns, 
Stephen Washer, 
Samuel Harris, 
David Hildreth, 
Ephraim Barker, 
Robert Reade, 
Samuel Hall, 
Archelaus Towne, 
Darius Abbott, 
Joseph Gould, 
Jona, Sawyer, 
Samson Crosby, 



Henry Kimball, 
William Low, 
Samuel Stanley, 
Jona. Grimes, 
Amos Flint, 
William Read, 
Joseph Steel, 
William Odell, 
Nathan Fuller, 
John Dunklee, 
Amos Green, 
James Hartshorn, 
John Washer, 
David Green, 
Phineas Upham, 



Nathl. Barrett, [Jr., John Shepard, Jun. 
Nathan Hutchinson, Simpson Steward, 
John Grines, Samuel Sterns? 

Israel Towne, Jun., Dimond Mussey, 
William Taylor, Moses Barron, 



92 



Thomas Towne, 
Daniel Stephens, 
James Seeton, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Jacob Curtice, 
Jacob Curtice, Ji'., 
Jonathan Taylor, 
Josiah Dodge, 
William Codman, 
Silas Curamings, 
Thomas McAlester, 
Joseph Steel Jun., 
Timothy Nichols, 
Benj. Hopkins, Jr. 
Eben'r Hopkins, 
John Burns, 
Benj. Hartshorn, 
John Seaton, 
Willm. Wilkins, 
Francis Lovejoy, 
John Cochran, 
James Gillmore, 
Josiah Sawyer, Jr., 
Jon a. Twiss, 
Richard Hughes, 
John Hartshorn, 
Nathan Jones, Jun., 
Amos Flint, Jun., 
Saml. Stratton, 
Nathan Hutchinson, 
John Averill, 
William Lamson, 
John Cole, 
Isaac Weston, 
Nathan Cole, 
Thomas Towne, 
Joshua Wright, 
Joshua Wilkins, 
Thomas Clarke, 



Jona. Lund, 
Isaac Wright, 
Benj. Kendrick, 
Josiah Kidder, 
William Peacock, 
Joseph Pierce, 
David Duncklee, 
John Kendall, Jun., 
Isaac How, 
Jacob Blodgett, 
Adam Patterson, 
Josiah Sawyer, 
George Burns, 
John Burns, Jun., 
Joseph Rollings, 
Isaac Holt, 
Joseph Cogin, 
John Roby, 
John Twiss, 
James McKean, 
Thos. Wakefield, Jr 
Ebenr. Holt, Jun., 
Jona. Lamson, 
Ephraim Abbot, 
Moses Kimball, 
Samuel Taylor, 
Allen Good ridge, 
Thos. Averill, Jun., 
Francis Elliott, 
Elisha Felton, 
Richard Ward, 
Nathl. Haseltine, 
Stephen Farnum, 
William Wallace, 
Peter C. Parker, 
Andrew Bradford, 
Stephen Burnham, 
Abner Hutchinson, 
David Truel ? 



Benj. Merrill, 
Jonathan Lyon, 
William Hogg, 
John Mitchell, 
John Lovejoy, 
Jacob Lovejoy, 
Jacob Hildreth, 
Samuel Henry, 
John Patterson, 
Joseph Prince, Junr., 
William Fisk, Jr., 
William Fisk, 
Barthl. Dodge, 
William Small, 
Joseph Small, 
William Small, Jun., 
Eben Hutchinson, 
John Harwood, 
John Tuck, 
Willm, Peabody, Jr., 
.,Jona. Wilkins, Jun., 
John Seccombe, 
Jacob Standly, 
Willm, Peabody, 
Joseph Boutwel, 
Reuben Holt, 
Michael Keef, 
Joseph Prince, 
Abijah Wilkins, 
Thomas Weston, 
Jacob Smith, 
Ezekiel Upton, 
Nathan Cleaves, 
Joel Howe, 
Stephen Peabody, 
Willm. Odell, Jun., 
Ebenr. Temple, 
Ephraim French, 
Benjamin Dodge, 



93 



Lemuel Winchester, Israel Towne, 



Daniel Smitli, 
Isaac Smitli, 
Nathan Flint, 
John Damon, 
James Woodbury, 
Benj. Temple, 
Joseph Langdell, 



James Gajro, 
Willm. Mellendy, Jr., 
Ebcnr. Weston, 
Richard Gould, 
Saml. Blasdell, 
Solomon Kittredge, 
Timothy Hill, 
John Wilkiiis. 



John Bradford, 
Joseph Dunkley, 
Ebenr. Averill, 
Elisha Hutchinson, 
Joseph Farnum, 
Amos Stickney, 
Joseph Wallace, 
To the Hou'ble The Committee of Safety, For the State of 
New Hampshire, or the General Assembly thereof: 

Pursuant to the Eequest on this paper, from the Committee 
of Safety to us directed, we have invited those Persons therein 
named to sign the Declaration on this paper, and all that have 
seen it have signed it except Joshua Atherton, Esq., Mr. Daniel 
Campbell, Mr. Samuel Dodge, and Col. John Shepard. 
THOMAS WAKEFIELD, 1 
REUBEN MUSSEY, 1^ Selectmen. 

SAMUEL WILKINS, J 
It will be remembered that at the time this paper was signed 
many of the young, active men of the town were in the army, 
doing what the signers pledged themselves to do ; hence their 
names do not appear on this paper. 

COMMITTEES OF SAFETY CHOSEN BY THE TOWN 
DURING THE REVOLUTION. 



1776 — Josiah Crosby, 

William Bradford, 
Peter Woodbury, 
Thomas Burns, 
Robert Means. 

1777 — Hezekiah Lovejoy, 
Stephen Peabody, 
Nathaniel Howard, 
Josiah Crosby, 
John Bradford. 

177§ — John Bradford, 
John Seaton, 
Hezekiah Lovejoy, 



Oliver Carlton, 
Timothy Smith. 

1779_John Bradford, 
Oliver Carlton, 
Hezekiah Lovejoy, 
James Hartshorn. 

1780— Robert Means, 

Hezekiah Lovejoy, 
Amos Flint. 

1781 — James Woodbury, 
William Peabody, 
William Hogg, 
Willinm Bradford, Jr, 



94 

The articles of confederation between the several colonies 
were agreed to by by the citizens of Amherst at a town-meeting, 
held January 27, 1778. 



POPULATION OP AMHERST. 

May 13, 1747. Thirty-five families, — fifty-eight men above 
sixteen years old. "Whole population about two hundred and 
twenty-five. 

In a census taken in 1767, the population is classified as 
follows : 

Boys, from 16 years old and under, 200 

Unmarried men between 16 and 60 years, 63 
Married men " " 185 

Men above 60 years, 17 

Unmarried females, 270 

Married females, 147 

Widows, 18 

Slaves — males, 6 ; females, 2, 8 



Males, 421 ; females, 437; total, 858 

September 13, 1770, a portion of Monson, containing about 
eight thousand three hundred acres, with the inhabitants thereon, 
was annexed to Amherst. 

In 1775 the population, as shown by a census taken by order 
of the state authorities, was 1,428. The original returns of 
this census are missing. 

In 1790 the population by the U. S. census was 2,369. 
January 11, 1794, Milford was incorporated: the south-west 
parish, containing about 80 families, became apart of that town. 
In 1800, by the U. S. census, the population of the first parish 
was 1470 ; of the north-west parish, 680 ; total, 2,150, 

December 15, 1803, the town of Mont Vernon, containing about 
700 inhabitants, taken wholly from Amherst, was incorporated. 
1810 — United States census, 1,554 

1820— " " 1,623 

1830— « « 1,657 

1840— « « 1,565 

1850— " « 1,613 

I860— " « 1,508 

1870— " « 1,353 



OUR FATHERS — THEIR FAITH AND 
THEIR PRACTICE: 



TERI|1T0RI/L HISTOI|Y OF THE FIP^ST PAI|ISH, 

AND AN ACCOITMT OF THK 

FIRST CHURCH IN MILFORD, FORMERLY 
AMHERST. 

BY WILLIAM B. TOWNE, 



After God had carried us safe to New England, and we had 
budded our houses, provided necessaries for our Hvehhood, reared 
convenient places for God's worship, and settled the civil gov- 
ernment, one of the next things Ave longed for and looked after 
was to advance learning, and perpetuate it to posterity* Such 
was the polity of the early settlers. With a country poor, and 
the people few in number, we find a collegef established, and 



♦New England's First Fruits, London, 1643. Mass. Hist. Coll. I, p. 242. 

t In the autumn of 1636, only six years from the first settlement of the Massachusetta 
colony, the General Court voted £400, equal to a tax for one year upon the entire set- 
tlement, towards the erection of a public school or college, of which £200 was to be paid 
the next year, and X200 when the work was finished. In 1638 the Rev. John Harvard, a 
consumptive, who had been in the country a year or two, died, leaving £779 17s. 2d., one 
halfof his estate, and his entire library, consisting of three hundred and twenty vol- 
umes, towards the erection of a college. In that day of small things this bequest was 
a large sum, and in March, 16-3!), it was ordered that the college should be called Harvard 
college, in honor of its benefactor. The first person who had charge of the institution 
was Nathaniel Eaton— a very unfortunate appointment. He was accused of ill-treating 
the students, of giving them bad and scanty diet, of exercising inhuman severities 
towards them, and of beating his usher, Nathaniel Briscoe, in a most barbarous man- 
ner. As a result, the court dismissed him from ofiice, fined him one hundred marlts 
(£66 13s. 4d.), and ordered him to pay £30 to Briscoe. He was then excommunicated by 
the church at Cambridge, soon after which he wen t to Virginia, from tlience to England, 
where he became a violent persecutor of the Nonconformists, was at length committed 
to prison for debt, and there ended his days. But this misfortune neitlier checked the 
zeal nor dampened the ardor of the earnest men who Lad the work in charge. Pierce's 
History of Harvard University. , 



96 

a little later, an enactment " to the end that learning may not 
be buried in the graves of our forefathers, every township, after 
the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty house- 
holders, shall appoint one to teach all children to write and 
read ; and where any town shall increase to the number of one 
hundred families, they shall set up a Grammer school, — the 
masters thereof being able to instruct youth, so far as they may 
be fitted for the University."* Here we have a distinct recog- 
nition of the idea of education for the whole people. In these 
measures, says the historian,! " especially in the laws establish- 
ing common schools, lies the secret of the success and character 
of New England. Every child, as it was born into the world, 
was lifted from the earth by the genius of the country, and in 
the statutes of the land received, as its birthright, a pledge of 
the public care of its morals and its mind." 

Within thirty years of their settlement we find this people 
surveying land, and laying out farms in the valley of the Souhe- 
gan, regarding it as within their province. And such a conclusion 
was not strange. Gosnold, Pring, Waymouth,$ and Smith, || 
of Virginia fame, — an escaped Turkish slave, whose life seems 
to have belonged more to a mythical age than to that century, — 
with others of less celebrity in the mother country, had explored 
the coast, its bays and its rivers ; but of the interior but little 

* Colonial Laws 74, 186. 

t Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. 1, p. 459. 

J Waymouth entered the Penobscot or Kennebec river, and in a shallop, brought in 
pieces out of England, ascended not much less than three score miles, and kidnapped 
and carried away five of the natives. " One, standing before, carried our box of mer- 
chandise, as we were wont when I went to traftic with them, and a platter of pease, 
which meat they loved ; but before we were landed, one of them, being so suspiciously 
fearful of his own good, withdrew himself into the wood. The other two met us on 
the shore side to receive the pease, with whom we went up the cliff to their fire, and 
sat down with them; and while we were discussing how to catch the third man that 
was gone, I opened the box and shew them trifles to exchange, thinking thereby to 
have banished fear from the other, and draw him to return. But when we could not 
we used little delay, but suddenly laid hands upon them, and it was as much as five or 
six of us could do to get them into the light horseman (boat); for they were strong, and 
so naked as our best hold was by their long hair on their heads." Mass. Hist. Coll., 
vol. 28, p. 144-5. 

II Smith made a rude map of the coast, superior, perhaps, to any that had preceded it, 
and was the first to give the country the name of New England. He declared that 
" truth was more than wealth, and industrious subjects more available to a king than 
gold." 



97 

was known. The marvellous accounts of the cx})lorcrs, and the 
religious condition of the country favored colonization ; and be- 
tween 10"21 and 1681, including both years, there were not less 
than twenty charters granted for the purpose of settlement or 
commerce on the coast of New England* The grant of Capt. 
John Mason, in UV22, extended on the coast from where the wa- 
ters of the Naumkeag discharge themselves into the ocean to 
the river Merrimack, extending inland to the sources of these 
streams. The same year Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges 
obtained a grant from the Merrimack to the Kennebec river, 
bounded by the ocean, and extending back to the great river of 
Canada. In 1028 Sir Henry Roswell and others received a grant, 
in width from three miles north of the Merrimack river to 
three miles south of the Charles, bounded on the Atlantic, and 
extending back to the western ocean ; and it was under this 
grant that the Massachusetts settlers held their possessions. 

The next year, 1G20, John Mason received a grant extending 
"from the middle of Piscataqua river and up the same to the 
flirthest head thereof, and from thence north-westward, until six- 
ty miles from the mouth of the harbor were finished ; also 
through Merrimack river to the flirthest head thereof, and so 
forward u}) into the land westward until sixty miles were fin- 
ished ; and from thence to cross overland to the end of the sixty 
miles accounted from the Piscataqua river ; together with all 
islands within five leagues of the coast." f Now it is obvious 
that grants so profuse and inconsistent could not all stand, and 
out of the two last mentioned grew the controversy between 
New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which lasted nearly a cen- 
tury, and was renowned for its acrimony and bitterness. A 
generation passed away, a new generation took it up, and thus 
it was carried along till terminated by royal authority. I have 
already stated that within thirty years of their arrival the in- 
habitants of the Massachusetts colony were surveying land and 
laying out farms in the valley of the Souhegan. Within the 
period mentioned, settlements had extended up to Groton and 
Chelmsford. From 1655 to 1665 the country was at peace with 

♦Palfrey's History of New England, vol. 1, pp. 397-8. 
t Farmer's editiou of Belknap, p. 8. 

7 



98 

the aborigines, and the tide of popvilation rolled onward rapidly. 
In addition to those on the Souhegan, grants were made on both 
sides of the Merrimack river, on the Nashua rivei", on Salmon 
brook, on Penicliuck pond, on Penichuck brook, and in other 
localities, and, with their continuance, the grantees, and those 
who desired to settle on the farms granted, felt the need of the 
privileges and immunities of an incorporated township. In ac- 
cordance tlierewith, in 1673, they petitioned the General Court 
and were incorporated, the township being named Dunstable,* 
and deriving its name from Dunstable in England, some of the 
proprietors being from that place. It must have been some- 
thing like fifteen miles from its eastern to its western boundary, 
and more than twelve miles from its northern to its southern, as 
it embraced the city of Nashua, the towns of Hudson, Hollis, 
Tyngsborough, all of Amherst that lies south of the Souhegan, 
all of Milford on the same side of that river, except a strip a 
mile in width on the west side of the town, contiguous to the 
towns of Wilton and Mason, all of Merrimack on the same side 
of the same river, most of the town of Litchfield, and portions 
of the towns of Londonderry, Pelham, Brookline, Pepj)erell, 
and ToAvnsend. At this time the north-western corner of the 
county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, was on the south bank of 
the Souhegan river, a few rods below the bridge recently erected 
east of the Pine Valley Corporation, and the county maintained 
its jurisdiction till 1741, when the boundary line between 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire was determined, severing 
Dunstable, and bringing about two thirds of the township 

*The following year the plantation was surveyed and its boundaries were as lollows: 
«' It lieth upon both sides Merrimack river on the Nashua river. It is bounded on the 
south by Chelmsford, by Groton line, and partly by country land. The westerly line runs 
due north until you come to Souhegan river, to a hill called Dram-cup hill, to a great 
pine near to the said river at the north-west corner of Charlestown school farm, bound- 
ed by Souhegan river on the north ; and on the east side of the Merrimack it begins at 
a great stone which was supposed to be near the north-east corner of Mr. Brenton's 
farm, and from thence it runs south-south-east six miles to a pine tree marked F, stand, 
ing within sight of Beaver brook; thence it runs two degrees west of south four miles 
and a quarter, which reached to the south side of Henry Kimball's farm at Jeremie's 
hill ; thence from the south-east angle of said farm it runs two degrees and a quarter 
westward of the south near to the head of the long pond which lieth at the head of 
Edward Colburn's farm. And thus it is bounded by the said pond and the head of said 
Colburn's farm, taking in Captain Scarlett's farm so as to close again; all of which is 
sufficiently bounded and described.— Proprietor's Records. 



99 

within the jurisdiction of New Hnmpshii-c. Tliis wns very dis- 
tasteful to many; nevertheless, with the settlement of the prov- 
ince line there was an improved condition of things. 

Confidence was strengthened, the tide of settlers moved on- 
ward, real property was in demand, and with the increase of 
population petitions were numerous for a division of the New 
Hampshire part of old Dunstable. Accordingly, in April, 1746, 
the legislature of New Hampshire divided it, incorporating the 
new town of Dunstable,* also Ilollis, Merrimack, and 

MONSON. 

This last named town embraced within its limits most of the 
present populous part of Milford on the south side of the Souhe- 
gan river, all of Amherst on the same side of that river, and a por- 
tion of the north-west part of Hollis. Col. Joseph Blanchardf 
was authorized to call the first meeting of the inhabitants, which 
was held May 1, only thirty days after the date of the act of in- 
corporation. At a subsequent meeting, held on the 27th of the 
same month. Col. Joseph Blancliard, James Wheeler, and Rob- 
ert Colburn were chosen a committee " to make the bound be- 
tween the town of Hollis and the town of IMonson." At the 
same meeting it was also voted "that there be a pound created 
and built near to the house of William Nevins upon the most 
convenient piece of ground." The following petition from the 
inhabitants was presented to the general assembly of New 
Hampshire, under date of May 13, 1747. "The petition of the 
inhabitants of the town of Monson, hereto subscribers, humbly 

*In 1837 thfi name was changed to Nashua. In 1842 the town was divided, and the 
north portion incorporated by the name of Nashville. In 1853 Masliville and Nashua 
were consolidated and chartered as tlie city of Nashua. 

t Col. Joseph Blanchard was son of Capt. Joseph and Abiah (Hassell) Blanchard; was 
born at Dunstable Feb. 11, 1704; married Rebecca Hubbard; was an accomplished land 
surveyor, and for several years was agent of the Masonian ])ropiietors; was in 1740, by 
mandamus, appointed one of the councillors of New Hampshire, which position lie sus- 
tained till his death; commanded a regiment in the French war, and was in 1755 sta- 
tioned at Fort Edward, AVashington county. New Vork, one company of his command 
being the famous Kogers rangers; was also judge of the superior court from 1749 to 1758. 
Hedied April 7, 175S, and his widow April 17, 1774. They had thirteen children, among 
■whom was Augustus nianchard, Esq., who died in Milford in 1801J, having been clerk of 
the south-west parish ten years, town clerk for the first ten years alter the town was in- 
corporated, and a representative of the town to the general court. 



100 

sliGweth, that the said town is Litely begun to settle, and but 
about fifteen fixmilies there ; that they are one of the frontier 
towns west of Merrimack river, and the most northerly one al- 
ready incorporated lying between Hollis and the new plantation 
called Souhegan West; that could we be assisted by soldiers, 
such competent number as might enable us to defend ourselves, 
shall cheerfully endeavor to stay there, by which we shall serve 
as a barrier in part to Hollis, Merrimack, and Dunstable ; that 
the last year we were favored by soldiers from Massachusetts* 
that prevented 0)u- drawing off; tliat should the war be pur- 
sued by the enemy as vigorously as last year (unless we are 
favored by some assistance from the government), we humbly 
apprehend it would be too great presumption to venture our- 
selves and families there ; that it will be very ruinous to your 
petitioners to leave their settlements and the frontier widened, 
and for a necessary defence will require a greater number of 
soldiers than to assist its there. Wherefore your petitioners 
pray that a guard for two garrisons and a small scout on our 
front may be granted to us. James Wheeler, William Nevens, 
William Colburn, Robert Colburn, Jonathan Taylor, Samuel Le- 
man, Samuel Leman, jr., Abraham Leman, Thomas Nevens, 
Benjamin Hopkins, Isaac Farwell, Stephen Haselton, John 
Burns, Thomas Murdow." 

Upon the foregoing petition, and a similar one from Souhegan 
West, the assembly gave orders for enlisting or impressing fif- 
teen good effective men, under proper officers, to scout and 
guard Souhegan West and Monson till the twenty-third day of 
October next if need be, and that said men be shifted once a 
month. 

In 174S,. Dunstable, Merrimack, Hollis, Nottingham, and Mon- 
son united in the choice of a representative to the general as- 
sembly, the session to be holden at Portsmouth on the third day 
of the next January. The town this year voted to raise £60 
old tenor for the use of highways, "one half to be done in June, 
at twenty shillings per day for a man and eight shillings per day 



*It seems from the tenor of this petition that Massacliusetts granted military aid to 
this infant settlement five years after it had been adjudged within the jurisdiction of 
New Hampshire. 



101 

for n pair of oxen ; tlie other half to be done in September, at 
fifteen shillings per day for n man, and the same price as in June 
for a pair of oxen." 

In 1749 the annual meeting was at the house of Mr. Thomas 
Nevins. The fifth article in the warrant was "to see if the town 
will agree to tax the lands within the whole township for the 
use of preaching." At the meeting the town voted to dismiss 
this article. At the same meeting a road two rods wide 
was laid out from opposite Souhegan bridge, commonly called 
Lyon's bridge,* up the river through the farms of Madam Tall- 
er, Col. Joseph Blanchard, Benjamin Hopkins, and others. f 

1750. At the annual meeting this yeai', Benjamin Hopkins, 
Robert Colburn, and Nathan Hutchinson were chosen a com- 
mittee to adjust the boundary line between Monson and Hollis, 
and the town again declined to tax the lands within the whole 
township for the support of preaching. 

1751. " Voted that the road from Nathan Hutchinson's land 
to Mr. Hopkins' house be discontinued, or shut up for a time, 
without the inhabitants please to put up good gates or good 
handy bars." 

1753. At the annual meeting this year the second article in 
the warrant was "to see if the town would raise a sum of money 
for a school ; the third, to see if it would tax the lands for build- 
ing a meeting-house; and the fourth, to raise money for the sup- 
port of highways," — all of which articles were decided in the 
negative. The boundary line between the town and Hollis 
seems not to have been settled, as at this meeting the matter 
was referred to the selectmen. 

The following petition, in substance, was i)resented to the 
general assembly of New Hampshire by the selectmen: — 
"Whereas, the inhabitants of Monson have received a late 
order to render into the office of tlie secretary of state an 
invoice of their polls and estates in order for apportioning the 

* In llie early settlement of the country the bridge over the river near tlie Amherst 
railroad station was called Lyon's bridge, and derived its name from Kbeuezer Lyon, 
who lived near it as early as 1748, and wlio died in 1798, iiged 88 years. 

t Widow Abagail Tailer, of Boston, at this time owned a farm of 300 acres in the 
neighborhood of the East Milford railroad flag station, Col. Joseph IManchard anotlier 
between that and where the present village in MiU'ord is now located, and Benjamin 
Hopkins owned the Charlestown school farm. 



102 

taxes, which we have done, and would further beg leave to re- 
monstrate our infancy and inability to bear any part of the pub- 
lic burden at present ; that there is but thirty-six polls in the 
Avhole, several of them being transiently hired to labor for a 
short space of time ; that there are but twenty-one houses, chief- 
ly small cottages, only for a present shelter, the charge of build- 
ing yet to come ; that the householders are all plain men, 
dwelling in tents, husbanding their employments, their im- 
provements very small, their lands unsubdued, their progress 
much retarded by their necessity to work out of town during 
the prime of the year, or at other business to procure provisions, 
and, though the town is a part of old Dunstable, it has till now 
been a jiortion and remained a total wilderness ; that till within 
a few years the owners were under no obligation to settle the 
lands that were very recently granted to gentlemen in farms, 
by which means the few settlers are scattered all about the 
town, and that much labor has and must be spent in opening 
and making roads, bridges, &c., that are of present necessity a 
burden too heavy for the small, weak number that is there ; that 
in the late war they were at the expense of garrisoning, scouting, 
and defending themselves, besides many other charges they 
must have and must go through; so therefore apprehend them- 
selves utterly unable to bear any part of the public taxes as yet; 
but hope their small beginning in time may become useful, if 
they may be nursed and favored now in their infancy. Where- 
fore your petitioners pray that they may be considered in their 
infant and chargeable state, and that they may not be taxed till 
they are of ability to go through their own necessary charge, 
and when that shall be, they will cheerfully contribute accord- 
ing to their power." 

1754. This year John Shepard,* William Peabody, Andrew 
Bradford, Israel Towne, Archelaus Williams, Richard Gould, 
Thomas Williams, John Hutchinson, John Edmonds, and others, 

* John Shepard then resided within the present limits of the village in Miliord,on the 
north side of Souhegan river, where Mr. John Marvell now lives; William I'eabody on 
the old I'eabody farm, farther up the river on the same side, late the property of tlie 
late T T. Farnsworth and Israel Towne, within the present limits of Amheisi, on the 
farm owned by Abel and Frank W. Chase. The prayer of the petitioners would liave 
annexed to Jlonson a strip of territory about seven miles in length by two in width, 
and would have included nearly the whole of Amherst plain. 



103 

petitioned the governor and council to be annexed to Monson. 
They represented themselves substantially as inhabitants of a 
tract of land north of and adjoining Monson, lying within no in- 
corporation, town, or district; that the town of Monson is situ- 
ated in length, east and west, near eight miles, in breadth but 
about four miles, and is bounded on the northerly side by Sou- 
hegan river, both sides of whicli river are generally fruitful and 
profitable land for corn and grass ; tliat if the town of Monson 
were enlarged on the north so as to add and include the follow- 
ing tract of land — beginning at the north-east corner of Monson, 
on Souhegan river, and running north by the line of Merrimack 
two miles, then begin the west station at the north-west corner 
of Monson and run thence north two miles, tlien in a straight 
line to the eml of the two miles first mentioned — which would 
be an addition of about seven thousand acres, and would make 
the town about five and one half miles in width generally ; that 
the said river is small ; that many bridges are now and must 
continue to be kept in repair, so that the river is no incon- 
venience to this union ; that it will be for the accommodation of 
Monson, and that several of the petitioners have for many 
years been settled here, and have made their improvements at 
heavy expense ; that they have not had the benefit of any in- 
corporation in any town, nor do they see any present prospect 
of incorporation unless they are annexed to Monson. 

1755. At the annual meeting this year the question of taxing 
the land for building a meeting-house was again agitated, and 
again decided in the negative. 

1756. At this annual meeting the question was again raised, 
and again decided in the negative, and an effort to raise a sum 
of money for a school part of the year was also decided in the 
negative. Before the close of the year, however, a special meet- 
ing was called to fix upon a place for locating the meeting-house, 
and it was decided to set it in the most convenient place, near 
the centre of the town.* 

1758. The annual meeting this year was held at the house of 
Archelaus Towne, innholder. The third article in the warrant 

♦Tradition points to a locality on the northerly slope of Duiicklee liill as the place 
fixed upou, and it still retains the name of " the ineotiug-house lot." 



104 



was " to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of residents 
and non-residents for building a meeting-house," which question 
at the meeting was decided in the negative. The fifth article 
in said warrant was "to see if the town will come into any 
agreement with Capt. Shepard concerning the one half of his 
bridge, or allow him some satisfaction for the same." On this 
article it was voted to allow Capt. Shepard some satisfaction for 
one half of his bridge, and James Wheeler, Benjamin Herrick, 
and Natlian Hutchinson were chosen a committee to adjust 
the matter. At a subsequent meeting this year it was voted to 
raise £250 old tenor for the use of highways, £70 to pay Capt. 
Sliepard for one half of his bridge over the river at his mill, and 
£16 to William Jones for plank put on said bridge. The £250 
for highways was never raised, the inhabitants at a later meet- 
ing reconsidering the vote. 

1759. The town again voted not to tax the lands for building 
a meeting-liouse. Chose William Jones and Josiah Crosby to 
inspect the deer. 

1760. Voted to petition the governor and council of the 
province to setoff or annex the land on the south side of Mon- 
son to Hollis, and to annex such part of Souhegan West to the 
remainder of Monson as will be sufficient to maintain the gos- 
pel, and other charges incident to towns. 

1761. Voted to raise £100 old tenor to defray town charges; 
declined to tax the lands for building a meeting-house ; voted to 
grant the petition of Hollis that a mile and one half, or there- 
abouts, be set off agreeable to the petition of said Hollis; and 
dismissed the article relative to fixing a place to locate the 
meeting-house. 

176.3. Benjamin Hopkins, John Burns, Joseph Gould, John 
Burns, jr., Thomas Burns, and George Burns, at the annual 
meeting, protested against a division of the town. The voters, 
however, sustained their former position ; also, voted to raise 
£300 old tenor for the support of preaching, each person to pay 
their money where they hear. 

1764. Voted to sink the £300 old tenor raised last March for 
the support of preaching. The fourth article in the warrant 
this year was " to see if the town would agree to build a meet- 



105 



ing-houso, and fix npon a place to set it," which article was de- 
cided in the negative. The fifth was "to sec if the town would 
raise a sura of money to hire preaching," which was also decided 
in the negative. The sixth was "to see if the town would raise 
a sura of money in order to make satisfaction to the towns of 
Hollis and Amherst for the privilege of worshipping with them." 
For this purpose it was voted to raise £400 old tenor. The 
seventh article was "to see if the town would provide one or 
more burial-places in the town," which article was dismissed' 
The tenth article was "to see if the town would be at the charge 
of making another I'oad where Mr. Benjamin Hopkins has flowed 
the town road, or take a course of law with him for damages." 
Upon this article the town voted to take a course of law, and 
appointed the selectmen to prosecute the suit. On the 12th of 
Sej^tember this year another town meeting was held, at which 
it was voted to build a meeting-house, to petition the general 
court for a tax upon the lands of residents and non-residents for 
building the same, and Benjamin Hopkins, Nathan Hutchinson, 
and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee to carry the matter 
to the general court. 

1765. At the annual meeting this year the fourth article in 
the warrant was "to see if the town will vote to tax the lands of 
residents and non-residents to build a meeting-house and settle a 
minister, and if not, to nullify and make void the former vote for 
that puri)ose." The proposition to erect a meeting-house and 
settle a minister was not sustained. The town this year voted 
to raise £250 old tenor to defray town charges. 

1767. The town voted this year that the money raised in the 
year 17G4, and assessed for the towns of Hollis and Amherst, 
should not be collected. 

1769. The town declined to raise money for the support of 
highways. 

1770. On the ninth day of April a special meeting was called, 
when it was Voted that the town be divided between Hollis and 
Amherst, both of these towns having assented to the arrange- 
ment. The division was as follows, viz.: Beginning at the 
north-east corner of Monson, and running south by the line of 
Merrimack two miles, then due west to the west line of Monson, 



106 



then north to Soiihegan river, then clown said river to the 
bound first mentioned to be annexed to Amherst, the remainder 
to Hollis. By this arrangement Amherst acquired its first ter- 
ritory on the south side of the Souhegan river. Tlie reason 
assigned for a division in the petition of Monson* to the govern- 
or and council was, "that the land in and about the centre of 
said Monson is so very poor, barren, broken, and uneven, as can- 
not admit of many settlers, so tliat those families that are in 
town are almost all planted in the extreme parts of it. We 
therefore conceive that if a division were made, as above men- 
tioned, the interest and good of the people in it would be much 
promoted thereby, especially as we have no prospect of ever 
building a meeting-house, in the centre or elsewhere, any way, 
to accommodate us, by which difficulty we think the gospel will 
not be settled amongst us while in the present situation." Thus 
was Monson blotted out, after an existence of twenty-four years. 
For the last twelve years of her continuance, her annual 



*TOWN CLERKS AND SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF MONSON. 



1746. 
1747. 
1748. 
1749. 
1750. 
1751. 
1752. 
17.53. 
1754. 
1755. 
1756. 
1757. 
1758. 
1759. 
1760. 
1761. 
1762. 
1763. 
1764. 
1765. 
1766. 
1767. 
1768. 
1769. 
1770. 



Town Cldrk. 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamiu Kenrick. 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Arcbelaus Towne, 
Archelaus I'owne, 
Archelaus Towne, 
Benjamiu Kenrick, 



First Selectman. 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamiu Hopkins, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Natlian Hutchinson 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 
Archelaus Towne, 
Archelaus Towne, 
Archelaus Towne, 
Benjamin Kenrick, 



Second Selectman. 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Benj. Hopkins, 
Robeit Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
William Nevins, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Colburn, 
Robert Nevins, 
Robert Colburn, 
John Brown, 
Benjamin Kenrick 
John Brown, 
Jonathan Taylor, 
Benj. Hopkins, 
William ISevius, 
, William Nevins, 
Daniel Kenrick, 
Nat'n Hutchinson 
William Nevins, 
William Nevins, 
Robert Colburn, 
Josiah Crosby, 
Joseph Gould, 
William Nevins, 



Third Selectman. 
William Nevins. 
William Nevins. 
Samuel Leman. 
Samuel Leman. 
Nathan Hutchinson. 
Nathan Hutchinson. 
William Nevins. 
Benjamin Farley. 
William Nevins. 
William Nevins. 
William Jones. 
, John Brown. 
William Nevins. 
Thomas Nevins. 
Benjamin Kenrick. 
Nathan Hutchinson- 
Robert Colburn. 
Josiah Crosby. 
William Nevins. 
Benjamin Kenrick. 
Nathan Hutchinson. 
Josiah Crosby. 
Daniel Kenrick. 
Thomas Burns. 
Josiah Crosby. 



107 

meetings were liekl at the house of ArcheLaus Towne * inn- 
holder. 

She had no public structure except a pound. She resolutely 
refused to raise money for the support of schools, and while she 
occasionally, at a special meeting, voted in favor of the first 
steps towards public religious instruction, at her annual meet- 
ings, she invariably negatived such vote. A century has passed 
since her demise, and but for the recent findingf of a portion of 
her records, but few persons of to-day would know that she ever 
existed. 

1771. The harmony that prevailed last year, when annexation 
was so popular, was not of long continuance, for in January of 
this year about thirty of the most prominent of those that were 
last year annexed petitioned the governor and council for a 
division of Amherst. They recite in their petition,—" That the 
town of Amherst is about nine miles in length, by reason that 
about half the town of Monson was of late annexed to it, and 
is capable of being divided into two towns or parishes without 
prejudice to or spoiling the same; that many of us live in that 
part of Amherst which Avas lately Monson, and our being an- 
nexed to said Amherst was contrary to our desire and interest ; 
that v,'e are so remote from the centre of Amherst that it is, 
and ever will be, with great expense, inconvenience, and diffi- 
culty to us and our flimilies to attend public worship, by reason 
of the distance; that many of our estates are not so valuable 
by reason of our being annexed to Amherst, for before that our 



*Arclielaus Towne, son of Israel and Grace (Gardner) Towne, was born at Topsfield, 
Mass., in 1734; came to Souhegan West with his father at the ape of about si.x years; 
married .Martha, born July 24, 1737, daugliter of Kphraim Abbott. They re.sided in 
Monson, at what is now known as Danforth's Corner, in Amherst, where he kept a tav- 
ern for several years. They had seven children. His wife died in 1773, after which he 
raised a company, took command of it, joined the continental army, and died at Fish- 
kill, K. Y.. in November, 1779. He was a man large of stature, of great physical 
strength and power ot endurance, fond of the hardship and e.xcitement of irontier life, 
a natural leader, and one that commanded the confidence of his associates.— Narrative 
of Jonathan Towne, who died at Miliord Dec. 31, 1842, in the 89th year of his age. 

tThe Hon. Samuel T. Worcester, of Nashua, being engaged in the prei'.aration of an 
article upon the early history of Holli.'i, was informed by his brother, the Hon. John N. 
Worcester, of Hollis, that there formerly existed, in the town clerk's ottice of that 
town, records relating to Monson. This led the former to procure the nearly worn out 
volume, have what remained of it bound, and put in condition to prevent further im- 
mediate waste. 



108 

situation was nigh the centre of Monson, and on that account 
purchased our lands at a dear rate, and Monson being annihi- 
lated, our situation is more inconvenient than before." 

Amherst followed with a counter petition, in which it was 
stated,— «T])at for more than twenty years last past a number 
of persons living on those lands lately known by the name of 
Monson, but more lately joined to Amherst, not having a min- 
ister settled among them nor accommodation sufficient for that 
purpose, as they said, very constantly attended the worship of 
God with us in said Amherst, not doing anything with us 
towards our meeting-house, nor towards the suj.port of our 
minister, except some small private donations made to our 
minister. However, they repeatedly requested our town to 
consent to receive them, promising to meet at any place that 
the major part of the people should fix to build a house on, 
whereupon our town, after repeated solicitations to receive 
them, gave their consent. And your excellency and honors, 
some time in July last, saw fit to aggregate about one half of 
said Monson to said Amherst. Soon after, our town saw it nec- 
essary to build a meeting-house, and voted to do it, our present 
meeting-house being small and insufiicient for the old town and 
said new addition. The most of the people of the new addition 
were present, and some voted in the affirmative, some in the 
negative ; but they began to tliink that the charter subjected 
them to the same duties with us of the old town, that they 
must defray some part of the charges of building and so forth, 
and not only so, but must do something towards supporting 
our minister. These reflections affected some of them very 
sensibly. They had not been acquainted with anything of the 
kind. They were ready to construe it as a degree of persecu- 
tion and the like. And to remedy this evil they are about peti- 
tioning to have our town, as it now lies, divided into two. 
parishes, which we think can not be done without a manifest 
injury to more than three quarters of the town. A very consid-. 
erable quantity of land in our town is barren and poor, and will 
not admit of two parishes ; besides, it lies in such a situation by 
reason of a river and hills, that the whole of the people may 
more conveniently meet at one place, the place pitched upon, 
than at any two places in the town." 



109 



No action was taken by the state autliorities ujjon either of 
these petitions, and qniet seems to have been restored. The 
new meeling-liouse was built and dedicated, tlie worshippers 
gathered in tliis new sanctuary from all parts of tlie town, and 
the continuous exercises of yesterday and to-day, after the lapse 
of a century, are a fitting recognition of that event. 

THE SOUTH-WEST PARISH. 

In the year 1782 forty-seven persons, as follows, viz., 



Nathan Hutchinson, 
Andrew Bradford, 
Josiah Crosby, 
Sampson Crosby, 
James Oilman, 
Thomas Burns, 
Isaac Abbott, 
Elisha Hutchinson, 
Benjamin Hutchinson, 
Josiah Crosby, Jr., 
John Wallace, 
Stephen Crosby, 
Augustus Blanchard, 
John Burns, 
William Crosby, 
John Bradford, 
Thaddeus Grimes, 
Israel Burnham, 
John Grimes, 
Nathan Hutchinscfn, Jr., 
Bartholomew Hutchinson, 
David Burnham, 
Arthur Graham, 



William Wallace, 
Ebenezer Averill, 
Moses Averill, 
Joshua Burnham, 
Stephen Burnham, 
Jonathan Hutchinson, 
Abner Hutchinson, 
William Feabody, 
Elijah Averill, 
Ebenezer Hopkins, 
Jonathan Grimes, 
George Burns, 
William Grimes, 
Darius Abbott, 
Samuel How, 
Jonathan Towne, 
Henry Codman, 
William Melendy, 
Samuel Dodge, 
Bartholomew Towne, 
Benjamin Ho[)kins, Jr., 
Benjamin Conant, 
Benjamin Hopkins, 3d, 



Samuel Graham, 
were constituted the third or south-west parish in Amherst, 
"for transacting ministerial affairs only." The reason assigned 
by the incorporators for the formation of this parish was, that 
their local situation rendered it impracticable for some of them 
and many of their children to give a general attendance at the 



110 

stated place of public worship, and, further, that they conceived 
they could well be spared, there being about three hundred 
ratable polls taxed to the first parish. There was no boundary 
to the new parish, neither were the members exempt from 
former obligations, one condition being, that nothing in its or- 
ganization should be construed to exempt any of said parish- 
ioners, their polls or estates, from paying their just proportion of 
all ministerial charges already arisen in said town of Amherst, 
nor from the future support, according to contract, of the Rev. 
Daniel Wilkins, the late minister of said town then living.* 
The date of incorporation was November 23, and the first meet- 
ing was held at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, on the four- 
teenth day of the next January. At this meeting Capt. Nathan 
Hutchinsonf was chosen moderator; Augustus Blanchard, clerk 
and treasurer ; Augustus Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, and 
Capt. John Bradford, assessors ; and Benjamin Hutchinson, col- 
lector ; — and it was " voted to build a meeting-house of the same 
size and bigness the north-west parish hath built, except the 
porches," and that Lieut. Darius Abbott, Capt. Josiah Crosby, 
and Capt. Andrew Bradford be a committee to provide timber, 
boards, and shingles, and let the same out at public vendue to 
the lowest bidder." At the first annual meeting of the parish, 
holden at the house of Thaddeus Grimes, innholder, on the 
fourth day of March, 1783, it was voted to raise £32 4s. to dis- 
charge the expense of the parish being set oflf, £95 to be laid 
out in purchasing timber, boards, shingles, and other materials 
for building the meeting-house, £15 to pay for preaching the 
current year, and that Capt Nathan Hutchinson, Lieut. Thomas 
Burns, and Capt. John Bradford be a committee to hire preach- 
ing. Later in the same year another meeting was called to 

*The Rev. Daniel Wilkins at this time was aged and infirm, had been settled up- 
wards of forty years, and lived onlj' three months after the formation of this parish, - 
dying February 11, 1783, in the seventy-third year of his age. 

t Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, a very active and efficient man in town and parish 
affairs, was son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tarbell) Hutchinson, of Bedford, Middlesex 
county, ]Mass., and married Rachel Stearns. In 1744 he purchased of Benjamin Hop- 
kins one hundred acres of land, near the centre of the Charlestown school farm,— 
bounded north by the river, south bythe south line of said farm, of equal width at 
each end, also bounded by a black oak on Saddle hill. He came here from Billerica 
in June, 1748, located on Elm street, where E. D. Searles now resides, and died June 12, 
1795, aged 78 years. His widow died on the 25th of July, in the same year, aged 
76 years. 



Ill 

make choice of a place where the meeting-lionse slioulcl be 
erected, and make provision for clearing the same. After ad- 
journing from the house of Mr. Grimes to the place regarded as 
the most desii'able location, it was voted that the house should 
stand about twenty rods south of Shepard's bridge, on a rise of 
ground. This vote would have located the meeting-house on 
what are now the premises of Doctor S. S. Stickney. At a meet- 
ing held still later this year, Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, John 
Wallace, and John Burns were chosen a committee to procure 
stone for underpinning the meeting-house, and Joshua Burnham 
was authorized to purchase a " parish book." 

At the annual meeting, holden March 2, 1784, it was voted to 
proceed with the meeting-house, and to begin to frame it the 
first Monday in June, and raise it as soon as possible. Capt. 
Nathan Hutchinson, Capt. Josiah Crosby, and Capt. Andrew 
Bradford were chosen a committee to see that the meeting-house 
is framed, underpinned, and raised. It was also voted to raise 
£30 towards the expense of the meeting-house — £20 to pay for 
preaching; that three shillings per day be allowed each man for 
work on the meeting-house, — the laborer to board himself; and 
that any person who shall hereafter join the parish, shall be 
exempt from any tax raised, to raise, board, and shingle the 
meeting-house. For some reason, not discernible at this time, 
the location that had been fixed upon did not prove satisfactory, 
for, at a special meeting held on the 1.5th day of June, it was 
decided that it should be located about ten rods north-west from 
the former place, between two pitch pine stumps; that Augustus 
Blanchard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, Joshua Burnham, Capt. John 
Bradford, and Lieut. Benjamin Hutchinson, be a committee to 
carry on the work, and that said committee provide one barrel of 
rum, two barrels of cider, and one quarter of sugar for the rais- 
ing. Thus, it would seem that the meeting-house was raised in 
the summer of 1784, for, on the second day of September of this 
year, a special meeting was called, and the second article in the 
warrant was to see if the parishioners would board, shingle, or 
finish any part of the meeting-house frame, — when it was voted 
to board and shingle it ; that it be boarded with square edged 
boards, and that the boarding and shingling be let to the lowest 
bidder at vendue. At the same meeting, it was voted to raise 



112 

£40 to defray the expense of furtluir finishing tlie meeting-liouse ; 
and Lieut. Thomas Burns and Lieut. Darius Abbott were ciiosen 
a committee to wait upon Governor Hopkins, and get the dona- 
tion he hath offered to procure the nails. It was common among 
our ancestors in England, and continues to the present time, of 
denominating the chief man, or the man at the head of promi- 
nent movements or establishments, as the governor;* and the 
title, in this case, must have been derived in this way. In 
1659, the general court of Massachusetts granted to the town 
of Charlestown 1,000 acres of land, from the unappropriated 
lands of the province, for the support of a school. The next 
year it was surveyed by that celebrated land surveyor, Jonathan 
Danforth, of Billerica, and described thus: — -"Laid out, for the 
use of the school of Charlestown, one thousand acres of land, 
more or less in the wilderness, on the western side of Merrimack 
river, at a place commonly called by the Indians, Sowheaganncke, 
beginning at the foot of a great hill, and so extending eastward 
about two miles down said river, and bounded by the river on 
the north, and by land laid out for Mrs. Anna Cole on the east, 
the wilderness elsewhere surrounding according to marked 
trees, all of which are sufficiently bounded with C, and is more 
fully demonstrated by a platt taken of the same."t The title of 
Indians was extinguished by deed, dated July 14, 1671.| The 
north-west corner of this tract of land was on the south bank of 
the river, a iew rods below the new bridge at Jones's crossing, 
and was identical with the north-west corner of Old Dunstable, 
the north-west corner of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, for 
more than sixty years, and the north-west corner of the late 
town of Monson. This tract extended down the river to the 
present east line of the firm of William Ramsdell, and no more 
attractive piece of land of the same magnitude exists in this 
region. The town of Charlestown continued to own it till 
May, 1743, when it was purchased by Benjamin Hopkins, of 
Billerica, for £375, and as early as 1745 he resided on it. A 
saw-mill is a necessity in a nevv settlement, and he early built 

* The translators of the Bible observed it, in James 3 :4. 

t Mass. General Court Records. 

t Middlesex County Registry of Deeds. 



113 

one upon Whitehall brook, a little west of where the house of 
Moses Proctor now stands ; and, if any one will proceed into 
the field, about fifty rods northerly of the house of Luke Smith, 
to a little point of land on the border of the brook, overlooking 
the river and the intervale, and remove tlie turf, he will occa- 
sionally find in the soil a small [)iece of brick or stone that has 
once been in a chimney, a wall, or a fire-place, indicating that a 
dwelling once stood there. It was on this spot in the wilder- 
ness, with nothing to guide him l)ut marked trees, that Mr. 
Hopkins erected his bullet-proof dwelling — a kind of fort, built 
of timber, to protect himself and funily from the fierce beasts of 
the forest, and fiercer men. On the north side of the river lived 
William Peabody, John Shepard, and Israel Towne ; on the 
south side his nearest neighbor was in the Avest parish of Dun- 
stable, now Ilollis; and his oldest son married Anna Powers, 
the first white child born in that town* Such is a brief out- 
line of one Avho had, by universal consent, acquired the title of 
Governor,! and who, after a residence of upwards of forty years in 
the neighborhood, was making a donation to purchase the nails 
for the new meeting-house. At a subsequent meeting, in No- 
vember, it was voted to provide clapboards, door-steps, boards 
for the lower floor, sashes, suitable stuff for window-frames, 
and glass, and that Capt. IsTathan Hutchinson, Capt. William 
Peabody, and Capt. Josiah Crosby be a committee to provide 
the materials voted, and see that they are delivered at the meet- 
ing-house. 

At the annual meeting holden on the 1st day of March, 1785, 
it was voted to raise £50 to be laid out on the meeting-house, 
and to raise £30 to hire preaching and defray parish charges. 
On the 7th day of the same month there Avas a special 
meeting called, and the second article in the Avarrant was to see 
if the parishioners will build porches to the meeting-house, or 
let any person or persons build the same for the ground the 
same may save in the house. At this meeting it Avas voted to 
build porches, and a committee Avas chosen for that purpose, 

* Narrative of the venerable John Hopkins in 18-10. 

fHe died Jimo 11, 1787, aged 85 years; and his widow died July 30, 1792, aged 93 
years. 

8 



114 

and instructed to have the work done as soon as the other out- 
side work on the house was completed. At the same meeting 
William Peabody, Benjamin Hopkins, and Joshua Burnham 
were chosen a committee to hire preaching the current year. 
At another special meeting, held on the '25th of April, Nathan 
Hutchinson, Augustus Blanchard, and Thomas Burns were 
chosen a committee to sell the pew-ground in the meeting- 
house, at public vendue, to the highest bidder, and give proper 
conveyances to the purchasers, and that the money arising from 
the sale be laid out in further finishing the meeting-house. It 
was also voted to put in all the joist and braces in the meet- 
ing-house not already in, and that John Burns be allowed 23 
shillings lawful money for doing the same. 

A still further special meeting Avas held on the 5th of Septem- 
ber, when it was voted to lay the lower floor, and to let the 
same out at vendue to the lowest bidder, and it was struck off 
to Thomas Boynton at thirty-nine shillings. Thomas Burns, 
Nathan Hutchinson, and John Wallace were chosen a commit- 
tee to procure proper floor nails, see that the sills were properly 
underpinned, and the floors laid in a good workmanlike man- 
ner. On the 25th day of December, another special meeting 
was held, when it was decided to have the sashes, window- 
frames, doors, body seats, and stuff for the body seats, put up at 
vendue, to be bid off by the lowest bidder. Nathan Hutchinson, 
Caleb Jones, and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee to 
vendue the work off, to procure at the expense of the parish all 
the necessa'ry materials for doing the Avork, and to see that it 
was done in a good workmanlike manner, — the work to be com- 
pleted by the first day of next June. The sashes Avere bid ofl" 
by Thomas Boynton, at 15s. 2d. old tenor; the window frames, by 
David Chandler at 8s. lid. ; front door, by Benjamin Conant at 
20s. ; the body seats and stuff for the same, by Nathan Hutch- 
inson. 

A warrant was issued for an annual meeting to be held on the 
7th day of March, 1786; the fourth article therein being to see 
if the parishioners would finish the outside of the meeting-house 
or any part thereof; and the fifth was to see if they would have 
the £40, voted at the last annual meeting to be laid out on the 



115 

meeting-house, assessed and collected; but the records contain 
no refeience to this meeting. There was, however, a special 
meeting lield on the fourtli of September in this year, wlien it 
was voted to accept the plan of Temple meeting-house porches 
and build in the same form, and also voted to procure glass and 
glazing materials for the meeting-house. At the annual meeting 
in March, 1787, there was no allusion to the meeting-house, but 
£30 was voted for the support of preaching. At a meeting in 
September of this year, a committee was chosen to get the glass 
set, and the sashes put in the window-frames, and £10 was voted 
to set the front-door steps, clear round the meeting-house, and 
level the ground before said house. 

The year 1788 was an eventful one in parish affairs. William 
Crosby gave the parish the following described pieces of land, 
viz. : " Beginning at the south-west corner of Shepard's bridge, 
thence running southerly on the Avest side of tlie road leading 
from said bridge to my house,* until it comes to the main road 
that leads from my house to Wilton, to a stake and stones ; 
from thence westerly on the north side of said road about eight 
rods to a white oak stump ; thence northerly to a black oak 
tree marked, standing on the bank of Souhegan river; from 
thence by said river to the place of beginning, being the land 
the meeting-house stands on. Also, one other piece, to be ap- 
l^ropriated for a burying-ground, on the west part of my form, 
bounded as follows, viz. : Beginning at a large white pine tree 
standing on the bank of the river a few rods north of the ditch 
bridge (so called) ; from thence east thirteen rods to a stake 
and stones; from thence south twelve rods to a stake and 
stones ; from thence west until it comes to the river ; and from 
thence by the river to the bound first mentioned, containing 
about one acre." These were parts of a tract of land of 500 
acres granted in October, 1G59, by the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts to Mrs. Anna Cole. The record reads thus : " In 
consideration of the liberal drifts to the country in the will of 



*The first house erected on Union square— was raised in 178.3, was occupied early in 
the preseut century by Dr. Robert Fuller, was known for many years as the old Fuller 
house, stood where the town hall now stands, and was removed to make room for thftt 
structure. 



116 

Capt. Robert Keayne,* the whole court met together and voted," 
&c. At the date of the grant she was tlie widow of Capt. 
Keayne, but the next year became the wife of Samuel Cole. 
This tract was bounded on the north by the river 350 rods, and 
extended from the west line of the present farm of Matthias F. 
Crosby on Elm street down the river, near to the steam-mill of 
David Heald. In 1780, Josiah Crosby, in consideration of three 
hundred bushels of grain, two thirds Indian corn and one third 
rye, purchased 113 acres in the north-east corner of this tract, 
extending on the river from near the steam-mill, before men- 
tioned, up a little above the west corner of the old cemetery. 
In 1782 he sold the same to his son William, and in the first of 
these conveyances it is referred to as part of the tract belonging 
to Mather Byles.f 

*Robcrt Keayne, merchant of London, came over in the ship Defence in 1635, aged 
40 years, with liis wife Ann, aged 3S years, and son Benjamin, aged 16 years. He is 
characterized by Winthrop as "a man of eminent parts, an ancient professor of the 
gospel, coming over for its advancement and for conscience' salce, as wealthy, given to 
hospitality, very nscful to the country, and a large contributor to its free schools." He 
was one of the founders and the first captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
Company, was four times a representative of the town of Boston, and once speaker of 
the House of Deputies. Notwithstanding his virtues and usefulness, he became obnox- 
ious on account of selling dearer than the law allowed, for which offence, after solemn 
trial, he was convicted and fined £250. His will occupies 148 folio pages of the probate 
records of Suffolk county, Massachusetts, in which he vindicates his character with a 
pathos indicative of a keen sense of the injustice to which he had been subjected, 
adding "that though he had suffered enough from the public to tie up both his hands, 
yet being desirous to requite evil with good, and though he cannot forget, being willing 
to forgive, and deeming it a want of gratitude to God for prosperous men to leave all 
to wife, children, or relatives, and nothing to the public or to charity," he proceeds to 
give £1200 to objects of public use or private charity, included in which were £250 to 
Harvard college. 

t Mather Byles was born in Boston, March 26, 1706, and on his mother's side was 
descended from Richard Mather and John Cotton ; was graduated at Harvard Univer- 
sity, in 1725, and ordained the first pastor of Hollis Street church in 1733. His first 
wife was a niece of Governor Belcher, the second a daughter of Lieutenant-Governor 
Taller, and it is probable this land came to him by inheritance. He continued his pas- 
torate till 1776, when, on account of disloyalty, the connection was dissolved and never 
renewed. The next year he was denounced in town meeting, subsequently tried, 
found guilty of attachment to the royal cause, sentenced to confinement, and with his 
family to be sent to England. This sentence was never enforced, and he died in^Bos- 
ton, July 5, 1788, having received the degree of D. D. from Aberdeen University in 
1765. 

He was distinguished among liis contemporaries for his wit, his solid learning, and 
Ms excellent literary taste. Pope, Lansdowne, and Watts were his correspondents, and 
many of his witticisms have come down to us. On one occasion, when required to 
remain in his housa under guard, he persuaded the sentinel to go on an errand for 



117 

The month following the gift of the land, the parish voted 
"to ceil round the meeting-house as high as the Avindows ; to 
case, make, and hang the end-doors, lay the platforms for the 
pews on the lower floor, and case the lower windows;" and the 
soutli-west corner, from the front to the west door, including the 
west door, ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms, was let to 
Joshua Burnham for 39s.; the south-east corner, from the front 
door to the east door, including the east door, the ceiling, cas- 
ing, and laying the platforms, was let to Josiah Crosby for 41s.; 
from the east door to the west door round the north side, the 
ceiling, casing, and laying the platforms was let to Jolin Wal- 
lace for 51s.; the platforms for the pews in the inside S(]uare was 
let to Jotliam Shepard for 19s., the work being let by vendue to 
the lowest bidder, the boards and nails for all the work and the 
hinges for the doors to be found by the parish. At a special 
meeting called in September, the parish further voted to finish 
the whole meeting-house; and Augustus Blanchard, Thomas 
Burns, and Josiah Crosby were chosen a committee of the pew- 
ground in the galleries, and lay the same before the parish on the 
29th inst., to which time the meeting was adjourned. At the ad- 
journed meeting, the plan of the committee was accepted, and 
tjiey were authorized to sell the jjcws at public vendue to the 
highest bidder, and apply the proceeds to tlie farther finishing of 
the house ; and as it might be necessary to give the connnittee fur- 
ther instructions, the meeting adjoui'ued to the 13th of October. 
At this meeting the pews were sold, and the stufl' and material 
for finishing the house " vendued " to the following persons, they 
being the lowest bidders, namely, — to Josiah Crosby, jr., 2 M 
laths at 7s. each, and 1 M feet merchantable boards at 18s.; 
Augustus Blanchard, 2 hhds. lime at 2-4s. 6d. each ; Joseph Wal- 
lace, 2 M laths at 7s. each; Stephen Crosby, 3 M laths at 7s., 



him, promisinj^ to perform sentinel's duty iu liis absence. To the great amusement of 
his neighbors he gravely marched before his own door with musket on his slioulder 
till his keeper returned, and wlien inijuired of in relation to his occupation, said he 
was guarding Mather Byles. After his trial, in alluding to the fact that he had been 
put under guard, the guard removed, and then again replaced, he observed that he had 
been guarded, re-guarded and disregarded. In 1780, on the celebrated dark day, a 
lady who resided near the doctor sent her young son to him to know if he could 
account for the uncommon appearance, ills reply was, " Give my compliments to 
your mamma, and tell her I am as much iu the dark as she is." 



118 

1 M feet boards at 18s., and 2 hhds. lime at 24s. each ; Isaac 
Abbott, 2 M latlis at 7s. each, 3 hhds. lime at 24s. ; Andrew 
Bradford, jr., 1 M laths, 7s.; Caleb Jones, 1 M feet 1^ in. white 
pine boards, 1 M feet inch do. — do. clear stulF for the work in- 
tended ; Daniel Johnson, 1 M feet merchantable boards, 18s.; 
Josiah Osgood, 1 M do., 18s., 2 corner girths, 12 by 14 inches ; 
Joshua Crosby, one half M white pine boards for ceiling, 9s. ; 
Jacob Hale, 500 feet pine plank 2 in. thick 14 in. wide, 16s. ; 100 
feet pine plank, .3 in. thick, 14 in. wide, at 4s.; 400 slitwork, 3 by 
4 in, at 8s., and hhd. lime, 25s.; hewed white pine timber, 6 by 
7 in., suitable length for the gallery breast-work, sills for the 
seats and studs at 8s. 6d. ; Thomas Burns, 2 hhds. lime, 25s. each. 

In December the parish voted to agree with Mr, Thurston or 
some other minister to preach six months during the year next 
ensuing. 

At the annual meeting, in 1789, it was voted to raise £36 to 
pay for preaching and defray parish expenses; that twelve feet 
in the front of the gallery be appropriated for a pew for the 
singers; that ten pounds be laid out in work round the moeting- 
house, " and that John Burns, Caleb Jones, and Benjamin 
Conant be a committee to see the work done. In October it 
was voted to enlarge the singers' pew, and that it be seventeen 
feet, and no longer." At the annual meeting, the next year, it 
was voted to build and sell two pews of six feet front each, at 
each end of the singers' pew in tlie gallery, and that the pews 
be built at the expense of the parish. 

In January, 1791, at a special meeting, the question of having 
the parish set off by lines was agitated, and a committee was 
appointed to treat with the first parish for the following lines, 
viz., — " Begin at the north-east corner of Ebenezer Averill's 
land, and running southerly, including Andrew and John Brad- 
ford's intact, William Peabody's, the wadow Shepard, Jotham 
and Daniel Shepard and John Shepard, Esq., until it comes to 
Souhegan river, then down said river to Merrimack west line? 
including all belonging to Amherst, on the south side of said 
river." At the annual meeting this year, it was voted to raise 
£40 to pay for preaching, and to defray parish expenses ; but 
there Avas nothing in the warrant relative to the parish being 



119 

" set oif by lines." In June, however, a special meeting was 
called, when not only tlie question of the parish being set off by 
lines was agitated, but the question of being set off as 
a separate town was considered, and it was voted to petition 
the General Court, as soon as may be, to be set off by lines or a 
separate town; and a committee, consisting of Joshua Burnham, 
Josiah Crosby, Augustus Blanchard, Thomas Burns, and Porter 
Lummus, were appointed for that purpose, and £12 appropriat- 
ed to pay their expenses.* 

At the annual meeting, in 1792, it was voted to raise £60 to 
pay for preaching, and defray parish expenses, and in June, of 
this year, the parish was incorporated, by the name of the south- 
west parish, in Amherst, and boundaries fixed thereto. In 
October, it was A'oted to sell the remaining pews at public ven- 
due, apply the money arising from such sale to the ])ainting 
and further finishing the meeting-house, and a committee was 
appointed to give a title to the pews sold. At the annual meet- 
ing, the next year, the parish voted to raise £5.5 to pay for 
preaching, and to defray parish expenses, and that the funds 
of former collectors be applied "to the further finishing and 
painting the meeting-house," 

Thus we see that it took upwards of ten years of continuous 
struggle for the parishioners to complete their house of worship, 
— a struggle that Ave of to-day can scarcely comprehend. Nearly 
forty years since, a venerable man then living, one of the found- 
ers of the church and an active worker in this enterprise, was 
asked by the speaker what year the meeting-house was com- 
pleted, to which he replied, " We scarcely knew when it was 
completed ourselves, for at no time during the Avork did Ave have 
any clear conception of Avhat would constitute a finished house. 
We Avorshipped in Col. Shepard's barn,t and when the meeting- 

*The parish not only took this step to be set off, but in October, 1793, voted to peti- 
tion the General Court in connection with the mile slip, Duxbury school iarni.anda 
part of HoUis, to be set otr as a separate town, and in Jan., 1794, these several parcels 
of territory were made a separate town, and incorporated by the name of Milford. 

t To us, worshipping in the comfortable if not luxurious houses of to-day, holding a 
meeting in a barn seems an absurdity,— yet an inquiry into the practices of the early 
settlers shows that this was no uncommon thing; aud a sermon preached in the barn of 
Major Cole, of Mont A'ernon, by Kev. Mr. Coggin, of Chelmsford, Mass., upon the 
importance of building a meeting-house in that parish, was an effective instrumentality 
in accomplishing that work. 



120 



house was so far finished that we coukl hokl meetings in it, we 
thouglit we had accomplislied a great work. TVe were poor, our 
means necessarily limited, frequently divided in council, and 
nothing but the privilege, for ourselves and our children, of wor- 
shipping God in his sanctuary could have held us together and 
induced us to complete the work." Truly was it said yesterday, 
in the excellent historical discourse to which most of us listened, 
"people do not move into the forests, clear for themselves home- 
steads in the solitudes of the wilderness, and take on themselves 
the burden of building meeting-houses and sustaining ministers, 
without deep convictions of the value of the gospel." 

CHURCH ORGANIZED. 

The church in this parish, denominated the third church in 
Amherst, was organized by an ecclesiastical council, Nov. 19, 
1788.* The council consisted of Jonathan Livermore,t Abiel 
Fiske4' John Bruce,|| Moses Putnam, Ebenezer Rockwood, Rich- 
ard Ward, Daniel Mansfield, and William Bradford. 

In the proceedings of the council twelve persons are named 
as constituting the church, viz. : 



Nashua, 

Hudson, 

Amherst, 

Litchfield, 

Hollis, 

Pelham, 

Lyndeborough, 

New Ipswich, 



Organized. 


Organized. 


1763 


Hancock, 


17S8 


1769 


Millord, 


1788. 


1771 


Weare, 


1789 


1771 


Deering, 


1789 


1772 


Grceufield, 


1791 


1772 


Brookline, 


1796 


1773 


Peterborough, 


1799 


1780 







*TIie churches organized in Hillsborough county, previous to the commencement of 
the present century, are as follows:— 
Organized. 
1685 Wilton, 
1737 Hillsborough, 
1741 Goffstown, 
1741 Temple, 
1743 Merrimack, 
1751 Mason, 
1757 Francestown, 
1761 Mont Vernon, 

fRev. Jonathan Livermore, a native of Northborough, Worcester county, lilass., 
born in 1739, was graduated at Harvard college in 1760; was the first minister of 
Wilton, being ordained there in 1763. He sustained the pastoral relation in that place 
about fifteen years, when he was dismissed, but did not leave town, remaining till his 
death, which occurred July 20, 1809, aged 79 years. 

tRev. Abel Fiske was born at Pepperell, Mass., May 28, 1752; was graduated at 
Harvard college in 1774; tiuight the Grammar school, and studied divinity at Concord, 
Mass. ; was ordained at Wilton in November, 1778, and was pastor of the church till his 
death, which took place April 21, 1802, at the age of 50 years. 

llRev. John Bruce, the first minister in Mont Vernon, was born at Marlborough, 
Mass., in 1757; entered Dartmouth college at the age of about twenty years ; was gradu- 
ated in 1781 ; was settled in 1785, and continued his pastorate till his death, which 
occurred March 12, 1809. 



121 

Stephen Burnham, Thomas Bnrns, 

Caleb Jones, Jonathan Towne, 

Elisha Hutcliinson, Benjamin Conant, 

John Wallace, Benjamin Hutcliinson, 

Joseph Wallace, William Melendy, 

Nathan Hutchinson, Jonathan Jones. 

Attached to the covenant are seven additional names, viz.: 

James Wallace, Letitia Wallace, 

Hannah Bradford, Mary Wallace, 

Mary Burnham, Betsy Wallace. 
Sarah Hutchinson, 

The first meeting was held at the house of William Crosby * 
soon after the organization, Avhen Elisha Hutchinson was chosen 
Clerk, which office he held till his death. f At this meeting an 
examining committee was chosen, and it was decided that 
applicants for admission might relate their religious experience 
verbally or in writing, and that no persons should be admitted 
who would not come up to the standard of full communion. 
The next year several meetings were held, but they related 
solely to the discipline of a member. Then follows a period of 
nearly six years in which no meeting seems to have been held, 
at the expiration of which time the church and town concurred 
in giving " Mr. Kiah Bailey " a call, the vote in the joint body 
being forty-nine for, and thirty against. Subsequently, the 

* William Crosby, the benefactor of the parish,— wliose house seems to have been open 
for parish, church, and other meetings, whenever business vital to the welfare of the 
body politic was to be considered,— was a descendant of Simon Crosby, aged 26 years, 
who, with his wife Ann, aged 25 years, and their son Thomas, aged 8 weeks, and came to 
this country in the ship Susan and Ellen in 1G35 (" Founders of New England," page 22), 
settled in Cambridge, near where Harvard college is now located, and was the son of 
Josiah and Sarah (Fitch) Crosby, who came here from nillerica in 1753, and located on 
the opposite side of the road near where the late Frederic Crosby lived. He was born 
Jan. 29, 1758; married Sarah, daughter of John Shepard; and died esteemed and 
respected, May 12, 1S31, aged 73 years. His younger brother Asa, who was born July 15, 
1765, and who died at Hanover, April 12, 1836, was the father of Hon. Xathau Crosby 
of Lowell, Dr. Josiah Crosby of Manchester, the late Dr. Dixi (Crosby of Hanover, 
Prof. Alpheus Crosby of Salem, and the late I'rof. Thomas Russell Crosby of Hauoyer. 

t Elisha Hutchinson, grandfather of the famous "Hutchinson family" of vocalists, 
was the son of Joseph and Hannah (Richaidson) Hutchinson; was born at Middleton, 
Essex county, JIass., Dec. 6, 1751; married Sarah, daughter of Amos and Mary Buxton 
of Danvers; settled here, in 1779, on the farm, in the north part of the town, now in 
possession of Dodge G. Hartshorn, and died Oct. 12, 1800, aged 49 years. 



122 

town non-concuiTed in the movement. The next year, 1796, 
the church and the town concurred in giving Mr. Phineas Ran- 
dall a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry, but 
Mr. Randall did not accept. Then follows a period of nearly 
two years, wlien no meeting was held, after which Rev, Abel 
Fiske, of Wilton, was elected Standing Moderator, and a com- 
mittee chosen to give information to the members whenever a 
church meeting should be appointed by the moderator. About 
this time tlie town voted, seventy-six to thirty-one, to give Mr. 
Nath'l IT. Fletcher* a call, but the church did not concur. At this 
time the church had been organized nearly ten years, but 
its existence must have been merely nominal. It could only 
have lived in name, as no deacons had been chosen, nor mem- 
bers admitted either by letter or by the profession of their 
faith, and there is no record indicating that a communion season 
had been observed. In March, 1798, the question of receiving 
members by letters from other churches was considei'ed, and in 
April it was decided in the affirmative, and nineteen members 
were thus received, five being from the church in Amlierst, two 
from the second church in Amherst, six from the church in 
Wilton, three from the church in Billerica, two from the church 
in Dracut, and one from the church in Durham. It was also 
voted at the same meeting to have the sacrament of tlie Lord's 
Supper administered twice during the coming season, and two 
persons were appointed to wait on the table. Two additional 
persons were also chosen for the purpose of conversing with 
those who should apply for admission, and the moderator was in- 
structed to call a meeting at any time, at the request of 
any seven members. In August, 1799, a meeting was held to 
consider the question of giving Mr. Micah Stone a call, but it 



* Nathaniel Hill Fletcher, sou of Deacon Abel and Abigail (Hildreth) Fletcher, was 
born at Boxborough, Middlesex county, Mass., April 16, 1769; was graduated at Har- 
vard University in 1793; received the honorary degree of A. M. at Brown University 
in 1799; was settled at Wells, Me., in 1800; was married February 8, 1801, to Sarah, 
daughter of John Storer, of the same place; and, after a ministry of 27 years, resigned 
his pastorate and returned to Boxborough, where he died Sept. 4, 1834. Several of 
his sermons were published, among which was one delivered at Deerfield, in this state, 
in 1812, at the ordination of Kev. Kathaniel Wells; a Thanksgiving sermon, delivered in 
Massachusetts, in Kovember of the same year; one delivered at the funeral of Rev. 
Paul Coflan, D. D., of Buxton, Me., June 8, 1821; and one on Christian communion, 
in 1827. 



123 

was regarded as inexpedient. In tlie year 1800 the church, 
fifteen of the nineteen members present, voted to invite Mr. 
Thomas Beede to become tlieir pastor, and tlie town concurred, 
proposing ^566 as a settlement to be paid within one year after 
the ordination, an annual salary of $333 while he supplied the 
desk, and $110 annually during his residence in town, after he 
should be unable to supply the desk ; and the next year a 
unanimous call of the church was extended to Mr. Joshua Lane. 
It would be interesting at the present time to know what were 
the hindrances to the settlement of the various candidates, and 
how the matter in each case was treated by the parties in in- 
terest ; but the records are silent on the subject. 

In March, 1802, the church, nineteen members being present, 
invited Rev. Humphrey Moore to settle with them in the gospel 
ministry. The town concurred, in April, and chose a commit- 
tee of fifteen to determine what settlement and salary was 
proper to offer Mr. Moore for his services in the ministry. This 
committee, after the consideration of the matter for one hour, 
reported 6600 as a settlement to be paid, or to become due in 
one year after the ordination, |400 as an annual salary, and a 
gratuity of 8100 per annum while he should remain their minister, 
and be unable, through infirmity or old age, to snp])ly the desk. 
In August, Mr. Moore gave an answer in the affirmative, and 
on the 13th day of the following October he was ordained, the 
exercises on the occasion being, — 

1. Anthem. 

2. Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason. 

3. Sermon, Luke ix, 60, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar, of Peterboro'. 

4. Ordaining l^rayer, by Rev. Jacob Burnap, of Merrimack. 

5. Charge, by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, of Amherst. 

6. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Lemuel "VYadsworth, of Brook- 
line. 

7. Benediction by the pastor. 

With the settlement of the new pastor, a brighter day dawn- 
ed upon the church. The month following, a confession of fixith 
was adopted, deacons chosen,* and stated communion seasons 

* Moses Towne and Benjamin French were chosen, neither of whom accepted, and at 
the next meeting, holden in May, 1803, John WaUace and William Lovejoy were chosen, 
and entered upon their duties. 



124 

agreed upon ; steps indicating faithful, earnest work. At the 
time of the ordination, the church had been in existence about 
fourteen years, but had had no additions except on one occasion, 
and then by letter. The subsequent year witnessed the mem- 
bership doubled, thirty-two being added on profession of their 
faith, and seven by letters from other churches. 

Of the pastorate of Mr. Moore, extending over a third part 
of a century, I need not speak.* It is in part if not in whole 
witliin the memory of many present. The 335 additions to the 
church during his ministry testify to the diligence and faithful- 
ness of his labors, and are evidence of consecration to his chosen 
work. And in conclusion, let me add that, in what I have said 
to-day, I have endeavored to let the fathers speak in their own 
language, revealing their characters in their own words, supply- 
ing no motives, and purposely abstaining from comments, that 
we might, unprejudiced, commend what was commendable and 
noble in their lives ; and if, amid their trials, their sufferings, and 
sacrifices, we discovered mistakes in method, what was little in 
character, or want of devout affection for one another, it might 
be earnestly deplored, and avoided in our own experience. 

*Eev. Humphrey Moore was dismissed March 9,1836; remained in the parish, and 
died April 8, 1871, in the 93d year of liis age. The following named pastors have suc- 
ceeded him : — 

Rev. J. W. Salter was installed April 2T, 1836; dismissed Oct. 24, 1838. 

Kev. Abxer B. WAK^•ER was ordained Feb. 6, 1839; dismissed Oct. 27, 1846. 

Kev. Lycurgcs p. Kimball was installed May 19, 1847; dismissed Aug. 7, 1849. 

Rev. E. N. Hidden was installed Nov. 21, 1849; dismissed April 7, 1858. 

Rev. S. C. Kendall was installed April 7, 1858; dismissed Oct. 1.5, 1860. 

Rev. F. D. Ater was ordained May 1, 1861 ; dismissed Sept. 8, 1867. 

Rev. Geo. E. Freeman was installed Dec. 23, 1868; dismissed Dec. 14, 1871. 

Rev. Geokge Fierce, Jr., was installed Oct. 29, 1872. 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 



DELIVERED AT 



AMHERST, N. H., 



HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 



|}etfifatiDi| of il\t ^oiiijitfiHtioujtl 1p[tdiit0=^ou$^, 



BY THE PASTOR, J. G. DAVIS; 



With sketches of Persons, Places, and Churches connected with 

the parish originally called Souhegan West, by Rev. A. 

Heald, S. H. Keeleu, n.i)., W. B. Townb, 

and 1). F. Sechmh, F'iiiiiires. 



CONCORD, N. H. : 

PIUNTKD n\ THK UKPIBLICAX PRESS ASSnci A 1 ION. 

1874. 



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